Teen dies after head-on collision in Scotch Plains, New Jersey
AJ Ross reports from Scotch Plains.
By A.J. Ross
Friday, June 17, 2016 12:07AM
SCOTCH PLAINS, New Jersey (WABC) -- A 17-year-old boy was killed in a head-on collision in New Jersey.
Thursday night, his fellow-athletes, friends and eyewitnesses came together to remember him.
A stellar student athlete with big dreams, Daniel Triano left an imprint on the hearts of many in Scotch Plains.
"The fact he's gone is just heartbreaking," said Rachel Valle, a teammate.
A junior at the Academy for Information Technology, Daniel's life took a tragic turn in a head-on collision along Cooper Road Wednesday afternoon.
Several witnesses say they ran to help when they heard tires screeching followed by a loud crash.
"At the time I knew he was in really bad shape," a witness said.
"They had to cut off the top of the car and they removed that and then actually they called for a helicopter to come," another witness said.
When medics arrived, Daniel was airlifted to University Hospital where he later passed away during surgery.
"We were all there and I tried to talk to him, he wasn't responsive, most I could do was just touch his arm and I said, 'Help is on the way, we know you're there,' that's all I could do," a witness said.
Signing heartfelt messages on pucks and sharing long tear-filled embraces, Daniel's friends and hockey teammates joined together at the site of the crash Thursday to remember their beloved #8.
"Even though he's not here with us he's still in spirit," Valle said.
Through a Facebook post, the Superintendent of Union County Vocational Technical Schools says their thoughts and prayers remain with the Triano family.
The district is also providing grief counselors to students.