The Crash

On July 20, 2009, Matt overslept.  We woke up to him yelling that he was going to be late for work.  We jumped in the car and headed off to Manhattan.  He was grumpy and silent most of the trip.    He was unhappy about letting his colleagues down.  We did not even say goodbye.

Jim and I arrived home around 8:30pm.  I still remember that I was going to call Matt at about 7:20pm to see how his day had gone.  I didn't.  Becky was at home, ironing Matt's white shirt for Tuesday and she told us that Matt had gone for a bike ride.  Chris had picked Matt up from the LIRR train station.

I sat and waited for Matt to come home.  I called his cell phone and got voicemail  I thought that he was at Danny's house, until there was a knock at the door.  It was now midnight.  That is never a good sign.
Three state troopers were standing at my door.  That was not a good sign either.  They asked me if there was anyone else in the house.  I told them Jim.  They waited for him to get out of bed and come downstairs.
They told us that a motorcycle had left the Wantagh State Parkway and hit Matt, who was on the Wantagh State Bike Path.  He was fixing a flat tire, when James Ryan, doing between 80-100 mph and later to be found DUI, left the parkway and struck Matt.  Matt was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center, but died, surrounded by professionals doing their best.  I could not comprehend this.  The information bounced off of me.  I was in shock.  So were we all.  State troopers went to Adam and Gabrielle's to give them the news.  There was no sleep that night.  I am not sure how many tears were shed, but I do know that there is little that I can remember about that evening.

http://wcbstv.com/local/dwi.motorcycle.matt.2.1095701.html