By Laura Lane
Nine-year-old Lisa Iburg, a Levy-Lakeside Elementary School fourth-grader who lived only blocks from the crash site, died after an 18-year-old Bellmore man in an Acura struck a minivan driven by Lisa's mother, Joanne, 43.
Lisa's sister, 11-year-old Christie, remains in an induced coma at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. She is improving, according to family friends. Both sisters were ejected from the minivan and suffered severe head trauma, police said.
Joanne Iburg was treated for shock, and her 13-year-old son, John, suffered a leg injury. Released from South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, John now spends his days sitting by his sister Christie's bedside with a cast on his ankle.
He also visits his great-grandmother Concetta Mattera, 88, who was also in the minivan and is now in the intensive care unit across the hall from Christie. Mattera suffered a broken neck.
Police identified the driver of the Acura as Vadim Atbashyan. Officials said he was headed north on Beach Drive when his car collided with Joanne Iburg's minivan at James Street. Police said Iburg was driving east, on her way home for the evening
Lisa, who was rushed to NUMC, died at 2:37 a.m. May 10.
Police impounded both cars for break and safety checks, and continue to investigate the accident. No one was charged after the crash.
The Merrick community was shocked and saddened by the loss of Lisa, whom those who were close to her called an angel. "Her mother described Lisa as a child whose face could light up a room," said Marc Mauser, a family friend who is acting as the family's attorney. "I agree with her. She was the kind of child who stood up for all of the other kids."
Lisa played basketball, soccer and softball for the Merrick Police Athletic League, and was an excellent musician who played the cello. Everyone's memories of her included her talent and love for sports and music, and all remarked about what a special child she was. "Lisa was a lovely child," said Dr. John Kohnken, Levy-Lakeside's principal. "I knew her because she always said hello to me, and I could see her sometimes waving to me in the hallways. When I heard about the accident, it was such a shock. I couldn't believe that such a lovely young lady was gone."
Al Belbol of Merrick has known the Iburg family for years. He has lent his support to family members by visiting them at the hospital. Belbol said, "The family is staying strong for Christie's sake." He added, "Both girls are the kind of kids other kids want to be around, a joy."
Belbol's son Anthony, who sits next to Christie in school, misses her. "He and Christie are friends and play basketball at our house," said Belbol. "Christie is intelligent and adds to the class. There's an empty desk there right now."
Christie is described as a talented violinist who is equally passionate about basketball, softball and soccer. And she's popular. "Christie is well liked by everybody," said Mauser. "She is a real team player with great instincts. When she played goalie in soccer, she'd be the kid who would dive for the ball."
Carol Siegel, who grew up with Joanne in Merrick, is close to the family. She refuses to be anything but optimistic about Christie's recovery. "They are a fabulous family, and I love them," said Siegel. "When you think of Lisa, you smile. She was a real whirlwind, running all over the place. Both of the girls are impish and always make me laugh."
Kohnken keeps a close watch on the children and staff at Levy-Lakeside, sensitive to the trauma they may experience in the wake of Lisa¹s death and Christie¹s continued hospitalization.
The school is reeling from its fourth tragedy this year, after the deaths of Trustee John Davis last July, 9-year-old Robbie Levine last September and a kindergarten parent this winter. Kohnken believes that Lisa's death is hitting children hard. "It's been a tough year for the children," he said. "And because Lisa's death was caused by a car accident, I think children worry that it might happen to them. And the sixth-graders are very worried about Christie."
Kohnken has asked mental-health crisis teams to visit classrooms and speak to children who express a need individually. He has also met with the staff to give them guidance on how to approach conversations with children about the accident. Some teachers didn¹t need the information, because they had already attended a course in February that focused on how to handle grief.
Mary Gravina, the assistant vice president of counseling services at Hospice Care Network, led the workshop. "The staff felt unprepared before the workshop with how to deal with issues like what to do if some children want to speak of the death and others don't," said Gravina. "When a classmate dies, it can trigger a lot of things in children, like their own unresolved losses or their own mortality. I discussed with teachers how to support each other when death visits a classroom."
Gravina added that you don't know if a crisis plan will work until you use it. She believes that Merrick has an excellent crisis plan in place. "What Merrick has done so very well is not to ignore what's happened," she explained. "They give children a chance to express themselves, incorporating into their curriculum the loss. Classrooms are rich with opportunity like artwork, poetry. Merrick is to be commended across the board. This was a district hit after 9/11 as well."
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
