Boy, 16, Dies After Crashing into Tree Less Than 10 Minutes from Home

A 16-year-old boy, who had conscionable started precocious school, was little than 10 minutes from his location successful Long Island erstwhile he died aft his car collapsed into a tree.

Around 9:22 p.m. section clip connected Saturday, Sept. 27, officials responded to reports of a centrifugal conveyance mishap connected Second Avenue, adjacent Horton Avenue, successful Calverton, nan Riverhead Town Police Department said successful a connection shared pinch PEOPLE.

Detectives learned that a 16-year-old boy from Riverhead was driving a Honda Civic, walking eastbound connected Second Avenue, erstwhile it deed a tree. The teen was transported to a aesculapian halfway wherever he was pronounced dead, authorities said. 

The 16-year-old was later identified arsenic Ostin Portillo Perdomo, RiverheadLOCAL, News 12 Long Island and Patch reported. 

The boy’s aunt, Amarilis Herrera, expressed her daze erstwhile speaking pinch RiverheadLOCAL. He was seen leaving his location that evening astatine 9:15 p.m. connected a location surveillance camera, conscionable minutes earlier nan accident. 

“When they called america to show us, I couldn’t judge it until I arrived astatine nan infirmary and saw him,” Herrera told nan outlet. “We’re successful shock. You spot him and you can’t judge it. It’s very difficult for nan full family.”

The teen was calved successful El Salvador and moved to nan United States pinch his mom and sister because his mom, Sofia Portillo, wanted her children to person much opportunities, RiverheadLOCAL reported. Ostin had precocious moved to a caller location pinch Sofia, his dada Marvin and 2 younger siblings. On Aug. 20, he celebrated his milestone day and was astir to commencement a caller job, according to nan outlet. 

“He was a very well-behaved child,” his aunt told RiverheadLOCAL. “He was very attached to his small siblings. He would return attraction of them, provender them erstwhile his parents were [working].”

On Saturday, Ostin spent nan greeting helping his dada hole things astir nan house. They shared a typical bond, Herrera told nan outlet. 

The precocious schooler aspired to go a lawyer aliases master shot subordinate erstwhile he grew up. But those dreams were trim short. 

After nan crash, Sofia created a GoFundMe fundraiser to thief screen ceremonial expenses for her firstborn. 

“Hello, whitethorn God bless you. We are raising costs for nan ceremonial expenses of my son, Ostin, who passed distant connected Saturday, September 27th, successful a tragic accident,” wrote Sofia, who did not instantly respond to PEOPLE’s petition for comment, successful Spanish. “We inquire for your help; whitethorn God richly bless you for your generosity.”

Ostin’s schoolhouse shared nan news of his decease successful a community-wide letter, according to Patch. 

“It is pinch heavy sadness that I stock nan heartbreaking news that 1 of our students, Ostin Portillo, passed distant this past weekend,” wrote Riverhead High School Principal Sean O'Hara, according to nan outlet. “We widen our deepest sympathies and condolences to Ostin’s family and friends during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers stay pinch them."

O’Hara continued, "A young person’s passing is ever tragic, and a abrupt nonaccomplishment for illustration this tin person a profound effect connected nan full schoolhouse community."

Never miss a communicative — motion up for PEOPLE's free regular newsletter to enactment up-to-date connected nan champion of what PEOPLE has to offer, from personage news to compelling quality liking stories.

Two days earlier nan accident, Ostin, who attended a Christian church, told his aunt that “he was already connected nan way of God,” according to RiverheadLOCAL.

“We are destroyed,” Herrera told nan outlet. “Marvin, my brother, is shattered, his mother is devastated — he was very typical to everyone.”

An investigation into nan clang is ongoing. Anyone pinch accusation astir nan incident is asked to telephone nan Riverhead Police Department astatine (631) 727-4500, hold 312.