Joseph Barbagallo (16) was killed when the car he was riding in collided with two other vehicles

[mydeathspace]

http://mydeathspace.com/article/2009/02/23/Joseph_Barbagallo_(16)_was_killed_when_the_car_he_ was_riding_in_collided_with_two_other_vehicles

[nestlequikie]

From the Social Security Death Index:

JOSEPH D BARBAGALLO      18 Jul 1989 28 Feb 2006 (P) (FO) (none specified) xxx-x6-1562 New York



A friend blogged about him here:  http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=682500 59&blogID=161012170

From a friend's comment on Joey's MySpace:

Sep 26, 2007 8:07 PM

Joey baby..
i know this seems wrong to say but it seems like its eaiser for to not to look at your pictures..
it hurts i keep the car accident artical in my purse i laminated it.

[size=11pt]Tragic three-car crash ends teen's life[/size]
Thursday, March 2, 2006 3:00 AM EST
By: Danielle Sanzone

"I can still see him lying in the back seat of the car," said Aston Teal, 17, the girlfriend of Ryan O'Connor, 18, the driver and Barbagallo's best friend. "I called his name but he never looked up. He never responded. I still can't believe he's gone."

According to police, Barbagallo was in the back seat of the car being driven by O'Connor of Rexford when O'Connor fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into an oncoming pickup truck. Soon after the crash, another car broadsided O'Connor's car.

The three-car crash left four people injured and Barbagallo, a Mechanicville High School junior, was pronounced dead at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy.

"We have been crying all day," said Teal, also a junior at Mechanicville High. "And we have been reminiscing about all our times with Joe. He was such a funny person and he was so full of life. He could do the best impressions of characters from MAD TV. He was always making us laugh. I think I am still in shock about the whole thing. And I know Ryan blames himself for the crash. He lost his best friend."

Barbagallo, who has been described as a friendly, well-liked person, had many friends at the high school, said school Superintendent Dr. Michael McCarthy.

"This is a difficult and tragic situation that happens to schools from time to time. Our crisis plan has been implemented and everyone is pitching in to help our faculty, staff and students cope with these sensitive circumstances. Our prayers go out to Joe's friends and family."

The school is also offering grief counseling. According to Pat McCann, one of the nurses involved with the grief counseling committee, their office has already talked with many students about the tragedy.

"We have multiple people on staff to help with our grief counseling program," she explained. "It is a real shame that this happened. He was a very nice boy."

According to Teal, the three friends were returning to Mechanicville after visiting a sick friend in Schenectady. "We were all really tired and Ryan (O'Connor) fell asleep behind the wheel," she said. "He woke up after the crash and had no idea where he was. It wasn't his fault he fell asleep. I have known him for several years and he is always very tired."

The drivers of the other vehicles have been identified as Shane Nolan, 25, of Eagle Bridge, and Kelly Wilson, 18, a senior at Mechanicville High School. Nolan, the driver of the truck, and Wilson, the driver of the other car, were both transported to Saratoga Hospital for acute injuries. Both have been released since the incident.

Teal, who was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital for neck and back injuries, has also been released from the hospital but her boyfriend, O'Connor, is still being treated at Albany Med for two broken legs.

"I feel like crap," Teal said. "I am hurting both physically and emotionally. The only thing that makes me feel better is hoping that Joe is in a better place."

According to the State Police, the preliminary investigation does not indicate that alcohol or speeding were involved in the accident, but the investigation is pending.

Clifton Park-Halfmoon Emergency Corps supervisor George June said both of the corps' ambulances were on calls when word of the collision came in. The corps' night supervisor went to the scene in the station's SUV.

June said ambulances from Malta, Stillwater, Ballston Lake and Waterford rescue squads went to the crash site and took the injured to area hospitals.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2006/03/02/today's%20stories/16224960.txt


RIP Joey

[modifiedgirl]

I can't keep count of the number of times I have been so tired while driving the only thing that kept me awake was the fear of something like this happening. Especially as a teenager, when you push your limits, test out the water, to see how far you can go.  This is a really sad story. I hope the friend does not end up getting charged with something. This seems to be one of those cases where an "accident" really is one.
RIP Joey