During the Nassau County Legislature’s meeting on March 20, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) led her colleagues in welcoming Glen Cove School District crossing guard Carlos Vazquez to the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building. There, they celebrated his remarkable recovery from life-threatening injuries he sustained after being struck by a car outside Deasy Elementary School.
In the aftermath of this incident – and a previous 1985 incident in which he was hit by a 40-ton Mack truck while riding his motorcycle and suffered the loss of one of his legs – Vazquez has distinguished himself as a beacon of inspiration in Glen Cove through his positive attitude, remarkable resilience, dedication to the children he protected, and commitment to giving back to the community.
The Legislature was in session on October 6, 2022 when word of him being airlifted to the hospital reached the chambers.
“At that moment, a chill went through me. But about a half hour later, I also knew that, if anyone was going to survive, it was going to be you,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I had no doubt after that initial shock that, one day soon, you would be back to the Carlos that everybody knows and loves. Each and every one of the people in this room were on your side from that moment, to this moment, and for always.”
Following the presentation, Vazquez and his family visited with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who presented him with a Nassau County Police Department Challenge Coin in recognition of his service as a Nassau County crossing guard.