Beloved Angels Of Long Island Volunteer Leaves Non-Profit Friends 'Devastated' By His Loss

PATCHOGUE, NY — A Patchogue man, who died two days after his sedan struck a storefront, was being remembered Wednesday as a beloved volunteer at the non-profit, Angels of Long Island.

Scott Letizia, 42, of was driving a 2017 Honda Accord at "a high rate of speed" southbound on North Ocean Avenue in Patchogue when he drove through the intersection at Main Street, and it struck the empty storefront formerly used as a shoe store on South Ocean Avenue at around 5:30 a.m., Suffolk police said.

He was taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk in East Patchogue where he was admitted in
critical condition, according to police.

He died on Tuesday, according to family friend, Debbie Loesch, founder of the charitable organization, Angels of Long Island.

Letizia, who was newly married, had recently purchased his aunt's house, and he was fixing it up.

He was on his way to work at the time of the crash.

"Scott left for work in the morning at 5:30 a.m., and his wife got a call at 5:46 a.m.," Loesch said.

"He was a really good guy," she said, adding that he volunteered his time and gave back to the community. "So we are devastated."

"On behalf of the community .... he was a good guy, a stand-up guy, very respected here, and, you know, we're all saddened by it," Loesch said.

Detectives from the 5th Squad in Patchogue are continuing to investigate, a police spokesperson told Patch.

They are asking anyone with information about the crash to call them at 631-854-8552.

In the meantime, a GoFundMe has been set up to help Leitizia's family.

So far, the page has raised more than $7,600.

In his post, GoFundMe organizer Bill Schwegler wrote that "anybody fortunate enough to have known" Letizia "can feel the sudden and tragic loss of a real friend."

"Scott was fun to be around, trustworthy and carried a genuinely calm and comforting personality," he said. "Please consider contributing what you can to his loving wife and loving family who are suddenly dealing with unimaginable tragedy."

Supporting the fundraiser is the least the community can do in the wake of Letizia's loss, those who loved him said.

"No money's going to bring them back, but it might make it a little easier for the wife. They did just buy a house, and now she's going to go to the task of burying her husband," Loesch said.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.