Services Set For Manhasset Man Killed In July 24 Hamptons Crash

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Services have been set for Manhasset resident Ryan Kiess, who died in a head-on collision late last month at the age of 25.

Kiess was among the five people killed in the crash on Montauk Highway, according to the Quogue Village Police Department. He is survived by his parents, Nina and Kurt; his sisters, Nicole and Kim; three grandparents; and his girlfriend, Brianna Maglio, according to his obituary.

Maglio, 22, of Garden City, is the sole survivor of the crash. She remains in critical condition.

Calling hours for Kiess will take place on Thursday, Aug. 5, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Fairchild Funeral Chapel, located at 1570 Northern Blvd. in Manhasset. A funeral service will be held at the Church of Our Savior Lutheran — located at 1901 Northern Blvd. in Manhasset — the following day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow from 1 to 1:30 p.m. at Nassau Knolls Cemetery, located at 500 Pt. Washington Blvd. in Port Washington.

Kiess, his girlfriend, and his two friends from Manhasset were Uber passengers in a Toyota Prius at the time of the crash, police said.

Justin B. Mendez, 22, of Brookhaven, who was driving a Nissan Maxima, slammed into the Prius — killing Kiess, brothers James Farrell, 25, and Michael Farrell, 20, and Uber driver Farhan Zahid, 32, of Bay Shore.

Mendez died at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital a short time later, police said. Investigators believe excessive speed may have been a factor in the crash.

The Farrell brothers were laid to rest Friday as thousands of mourners, many young, turned out in Port Washington for the emotional and heartfelt service.

Kurt Kiess said his son Ryan had been friends with James and Michael since elementary school in Manhasset.

"They lived 200 yards apart," he said. "They took the school bus together and were sports teammates, playing lacrosse."

The young men, he said, were all "very caring."

"They were the first to help you. They just loved music, they loved their friends," he said, adding that the trio enjoyed playing golf together at North Hempstead Country Club.

His son met Brianna, who is currently in intensive care, at the University of Scranton. They both played lacrosse and had been dating for six years.

"They were a fantastic couple," he said.

The night his son died began as a celebration. Kurt and his wife had just bought a home in Remsenburg.

"It was our first party. My son was so proud of that house. All of his friends were in the cottage, playing games and dancing," he said. "They helped clean up and then they called an Uber to go dancing. He walked into the living room and got into the car — and that was the last time I saw my son," he said.

He added: "You see these things on the news and you say, 'That's somebody else' — and then it becomes your family."

The young people called an Uber to be safe, he explained. "They were doing the right thing."

His son and his friends, Kiess said, "were all good kids." The 25-year-old was an accountant at KPMG and had just been promoted. "They were all at the start of their careers, it was unlimited — they had their whole lives in front of them."

Through tears, Kiess said: "Our hearts are broken forever. Our lives will never be the same. We love our son — and we always will."

Last week, the wife of the Uber driver for Zahid, who leaves behind three small children. She has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of living and funeral expenditures.