Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R,C-Patchogue) was joined by friends and family of Angelica Nappi, local elected officials and community leaders at a special ceremony in Patchogue on July 24 as they unveiled new signage renaming a portion of Woodside Avenue in Patchogue as “Angelica Nappi Avenue.”
“The tragic loss of Angelica should never be forgotten. It is my hope with this renaming that we honor her life and reinforce the law that will help to ensure such a loss will not happen again,” Thorne said.
Thorne’s measure, which designated and renamed Woodside Avenue between Mercury Avenue and CR-101 as “Angelica Nappi Avenue,” unanimously passed the Legislature and further authorized, empowered, and directed the Department of Public Works to take all actions necessary to effectuate the naming.
In 2008, 14-year-old Angelica Nappi, from Holbrook, was killed in a car accident in Medford when the car in which she was a passenger was broadsided by a Jeep driven by a man with seven previous driver’s license suspensions. In fact, his license had been revoked that very same morning.
Angelica was airlifted to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital and placed on life support. Tragically, she passed away three days later.
The driver of this fatal crash faced only a misdemeanor as a consequence of his actions and only served less than six months in jail.
Strong and persistent public outrage finally led to Governor Kathy Hochul’s signing of “Angelica’s Law” in December 2023. The law aims to prevent similar drivers from legally being on the road by reducing from 10 times to five times the number of prior suspensions imposed for moving violations needed to qualify for first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle to become a Class E felony.
“Angelica’s Law” further makes the offense punishable by up to two years in prison, with fines ranging from $500 to $5,000.
“I pray that the road that’s being renamed in memory of my daughter, Angelica, would be a reminder to all who travel upon it, that we must take responsibility when we get behind the wheel of a car. To do so in an impaired state is a selfish action that can have devastating consequences, as in the case of my daughter,” said Dawn Riendeau, Angelica’s mother. “I am thankful that the renaming of this roadway will keep my daughter’s memory alive.”
The legislation creating “Angelica’s Law” (S4671/A3983) was co-sponsored in the New York State Legislature by Senator Dean Murray (R,C-Patchogue) and Assemblyman Joseph P. DeStefano (R,C-Medford) in their respective chambers.
“I want to thank Legislator Thorne for pushing to dedicate a portion of Woodside Avenue in the name of Angelica Nappi to always remind us of the dangers of drunk, drugged and distracted driving and to call attention to the dangers of continuing to drive when one’s driving privileges have been revoked,” Murray said.
“This is a fitting tribute to Angelica Nappi, whose life was tragically cut short by a reckless driver with a long history of license suspensions,” DeStefano said. “No family should be a victim to a tragic loss of life from reckless drivers. Naming this intersection in her honor ensures that her story is never forgotten and reinforces our shared responsibility to make New York’s streets safer for everyone by keeping dangerous drivers off the road. Angelica’s Law sends a clear message to irresponsible drivers who have repeatedly broken the law that their actions will be met with severe consequences.”