Death of 3 counselors in single-car parkway crash devastates New York camp for disabled

3 counselors at NY camp for disabled die in crash

ROOSEVELT, N.Y. — A car carrying counselors to work at a camp for the disabled crashed into a tree alongside a Long Island parkway Thursday, killing three, injuring two others and overwhelming campers who possessed varying abilities to process the tragedy.

The counselors were driving on the Meadowbrook Parkway en route to Camp Anchor, a town-run seaside camp for about 600 adults and children with disabilities ranging from quadriplegia to autism to Down syndrome, said Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray. Two of the victims were sisters.

“We are all devastated by this tragedy,” Murray said.

Police believe the dark Honda sedan was traveling south on the parkway around 8:45 a.m. when it veered off the right side of the road and crashed into a tree. No other injuries were reported, and detectives were investigating the cause; alcohol was ruled out.

“These were three young adults doing something positive for the community,” state Police Maj. Walter Heesch said in a statement.

Killed were Jaime Malone, 22; Paige Malone, 19; and Michael Mulhall, 22, authorities said. Justine Mulhall and Kelly Murphy, both 20, were treated for minor injuries at Nassau University Medical Center. All the victims were from Floral Park.

Officials restricted access to the camp in Lido Beach, on the southern shore of Long Island. They cited the need for privacy of both the campers and counselors, who Murray said were devastated. A police car was posted at the gate.

The six-week camp’s name is an acronym for Answering the Needs of Citizens with Handicaps through Organized Recreation. It has one counselor for every camper, Murray said.

“As anybody who’s ever come to Camp Anchor knows, the heart and soul of the camp are the young men and women who mostly volunteer and work with our campers,” Murray told reporters outside the facility. “There is a very special bond that is life-enhancing both for the campers and the counselors.”

Although many young people volunteer at the camp, the crash victims were paid employees who have worked with the summer program for three or four summers.

The campers had varying degrees of reaction, depending on their abilities, Murray said. But “they know that a big tragedy has happened today,” she said.

(This version CORRECTS the story to note that the car crashed to the right side of the southbound lanes, not in the median.)