Funeral Arrangements Set for Brigit Burgio, 23, Who Died in Tragic Baiting Hollow Crash

RIVERHEAD, NY - The community will come together to mourn a beautiful young life lost far too soon.

Funeral arrangements for Brigit Burgio, 23, who died tragically after a Baiting Hollow crash Sunday night, have been set: A wake will take place at the McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home, located at 336 Marcy Avenue in Riverhead, on Friday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A funeral service will follow at St. Isidore's Roman Catholic Church, located at 622 Pulaski Street, on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Donations may be made to Autism Speaks.

Hearts were broken after news of her death spread to her college alma mater, Mount Saint Mary. "A special life that is now a tremendous loss to the world," said her former coach Frank Martini. "Our college and team was blessed to have Brigit as part of our family. She carried with her all the finest attributes of a student-athlete. On the field there was nothing she couldn't do, great skill, vision, determination and a team player. Brigit understood the responsibility of being a Mount student-athlete and wore that badge with dignity and pride, winning the respect of her teammates and opponents. The numbness we now feel will soon be overshadowed by the memories that reside within our hearts."

He added, "When my mother was alive, she would always say, 'The Lord takes the best people first.' This definitely confirmed that statement."

According to Riverhead Town Police, the accident took place at 9:20 p.m. on Edwards Avenue when Burgio, who was driving a 2004 Kia Optima north, sideswiped a 2014 Jeep Wrangler parked on the west side of the road.

Burgio's car continued northbound before crashing into a tree on the west side of the road, police said.

The Riverhead Fire Department responded; she was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she died from her grave injuries at about 4 a.m. Monday.

A graduate of Riverhead High School and soccer star, Burgio was a four-year central midfielder, winning all conference honors in 2008 and 2009. She won team MVP in 2009.

She also played for the Sound Beach Tidal Wave, where she helped the team win a Long Island Junior Soccer League Division Championship in 2009, according to Mount Saint Mary, where she majored in psychology.