‘Big Light In The Room’ LI Hit-And-Run Crash Victim Honored With Blood, Awareness Drive

FARMINGVILLE, NY — Nicholas “Nick” Puzio was like a big light in every room he walked into.

People who knew him described him as the life of the party. Everything was funny and he could make a joke out of any situation.

He was a really hard worker, had a huge group of friends, and was very “big into family.”

“You knew who he was when he walked in the room because he was funny, everything was funny; it was a joke,” his mother Theresa Puzio told Patch. “He really lived life to the fullest. I have to say, at 25 years old, he did a lot. He was a really wonderful person.”

Puzio was grievously injured after a double hit- and-run crash while trying to cross Route 112 in Patchogue back in March.

But, thanks to the quick action taken by some good Samaritans, who saw the crash, he was given a fighting chance to survive and was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue, according to his family.

Hospital staff administered numerous blood transfusions to stabilize him; however, the severity of his injuries was too much on his body, and he died several hours later, his family said.

“He was too broken,” Theresa said, fighting back tears.

Not A Call A Mother Ever Wants

Theresa, who lives in North Carolina, was first alerted to Nick’s hospitalization by a good Samaritan who found her phone number on his phone, telling the device, “Call Mom.”

“I didn’t even know you could do that,” she said. “She told me that he was in an accident and that he was hit by a car, and then he told me he was hit by a second car, and that I should hurry and get to the hospital.”

Theresa Facetimed with Nick and his brother, who was by his bedside as he lay on life support. She could see there was no hope — and she said her final goodbye.

“I said everything I needed to say,” Theresa’s voice cracked, and she paused to apologize to a reporter. “I’m sorry.”

She was fortunate to get to see her son at the hospital before he was transferred to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office.

It was a relief that she was spared that visit.

His funeral drew more than 2,000 mourners, including from his days serving as a clerk at Dunkin.’

An Arrest After Two Days, While A Second Driver Is At-Large

Two days after Nick’s death on March 14, police arrested Elian Zurado-Zavala, 19, of Bay Shore, at his home and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident with a fatality, Patch previously reported.

Jurado-Zavala was identified as the driver of the white 2014 Honda Civic that struck Puzio, police said.

One minute after being struck by the first car believed to be driven by Jurado-Zavala, Puzio, was struck by a gray Nissan Armada that also bolted from the scene, according to police.

Jurado-Zavala pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, and had his license suspended, according to online court documents.

His bail was set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

His attorney, Robert Macedonio of Central Islip, declined comment, citing the ongoing legal case.

Police have not made an arrest in connection with the second car strike.

Nick’s death remains an active investigation, police said.

A Quest For Justice

Since Nick’s death, Theresa and her family, as well as friends, have questioned whether the penalty for leaving the scene of a fatal crash is tough enough for offenders.

Puzio’s best friend, Caitlyn McNeil, told News 12, “We started the petition, and we did our research and our legwork to see what we can do.”

Hearing about the family’s quest for justice, Penny Hines, whose son knew Nick through an auto club he was involved in, Lifted LI, suggested that the ask might be in the realm of her boss, state Sen. Dean Murray. Murray championed anti-doctor shopping legislation developed after the Medford Pharmacy Massacre in which four people were killed by a gunman seeking opioids.

Hines described Puzio as a very energetic, outgoing person.

“He was the life of the party,” she said.

Murray calls the proposed legislation, pre-dubbed “Nick’s Law,”
“Rather personal.”

It will increase the penalties of leaving the scene of an accident from a Class D felony to a Class B felony, in turn, raising jail time and increasing fines from $5,000 to $30,000.

The bill is co-sponsored in the Assembly by Assemb. Doug Smith.

The problem is when people – maybe they’re under the influence or something – and they get into an accident, and their first thought is, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m under the influence,’ or ‘I did something wrong. If I get caught, I’m going to really get in trouble.’ So they flee,” he said.

Murray hopes the bill will change that line of thinking, making their first thought that if they flee, they will “really” will get in trouble and stay and “face the consequences.”

A Blood Drive To Raise Awareness

To honor what would have been Nick’s 26th birthday, family and friends have organized a memorial blood drive next month in his hometown of Farmingville.

It will also serve a dual purpose of raising awareness for “Nick’s Law.”

Nick, who grew up in Farmingville, graduated Sachem East High School and had been working for Bay Fuel in Holtsville in the years before his death.

When he wasn’t the big light in the room shining as the life of the party, he was a knight in shining armor.

He would think nothing of taking some time out of his own day to help another person.

He would be one of the first to offer help if his auto club needed a volunteer.

Nick would often help people struggling with groceries. He would have been the first one online to help with “Nick’s Law” and the blood drive, his mother said.

“He would have definitely been very happy about the blood drive — anything to get anyone some help, or raise money for people,” Theresa said.

Nick was also an advocate of justice.

Theresa said she is hoping the law can get changed. It’s not just about her son.

“It’s really a shame that people aren’t stopping,” she said. “People might be alive today, if they could get the medical help; if someone called the police.”

“I just don’t understand why,” she said. “It seems like such an epidemic of people doing that. I really don’t understand.”

Anyone with information about the series of crashes that took Nick’s life can call Major Case Squad detectives at 631-852-6553 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers, a confidential police hotline, at 1-800-220-TIPS.

THINGS TO KNOW:

1. The blood drive in Puzio’s honor will take place on Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the meeting room of the Farmingville Fire Department on 780 Horseblock Rd.

2. Appointments can be made by clicking here.

1. For more information on Nick’s Law and the blood drive, click here.

Lisa Finn contributed additional reporting.