The community turned out yesterday at the Deep Water Bar & Grille in Greenport to help a local bus driver who is still struggling to pick up the pieces after a devastating accident that left him gravely injured in September.
Luis Garnica, 50, of Hampton Bays, was the driver of the eastbound Suffolk County Transit S-92 bus that was crossing the bridge just east of Sage Boulevard when it was struck head-on by driver Jeremiah Grunblatt, after Grunblatt swerved into the eastbound lane, police said. The couple’s SUV then struck the guardrail; Grunblatt, a groom on his honeymoon, died at the scene.
Garnica’s co-workers at Sunrise Bus Company organized yesterday’s fundraiser, which included a 50/50 and Chinese auction.
Garnica, who just had another surgery, was unable to attend, organizers said.
The event raised more than $3,000; a Go Fund Me page for Garnica has raised to $1,100 as of this morning, said Peggy Beach of Sunrise Bus Company, who organized the event with her colleague Irene Kostas.
Beth Pike, owner of Deep Water Bar & Grille, also donated the space, and food, and was “incredibly generous,” according to Beach.
Everyone involved opened their hearts, the bartender donated her time, and a long list of businesses supplied Chinese auction prizes; Academy Printing provided all the tickets and flyers at no charge.
“Thank you to everyone who helped to make it happen, to the people who donate and the people who came,” Beach said.
Approximately 55 attended the event, Beach said. “Everyone had a good time — and the food was great,” she added.
Some even donated their Chinese auction prizes back to Garnica; his family will receive a large Christmas basket for the holidays, as well as other prizes.
Donations can still also be given directly to both Beach and Kostas, for deposit into an account for Garnica.
Initially, police described Garnica as having sustained a “severe leg injury,” but friends and colleagues say he has suffered devastating physical impacts.
To that end, both the Go Fund Me page, “Please Help Luis Garnica and Family” and a fundraising effort locally in Greenport have been organized.
The account for Garnica has been set up at the Capital One bank in Greenport; those wishing to donate can go to that location, where the account was opened by Beach in Luis Garnica’s name, under “Road to Recovery.”
Both Beach and Kostas said the road ahead is long for their friend, whose injuries are extensive.
“He’s a really nice guy. Very respectful. A hard worker. He’s a family man,” Kostas said.
Beach agreed. “He’s one of our best drivers. He has a wife and four small children. The passengers just love him; he’s a great guy.”
Garnica’s injuries were far more serious than have been reported initially, Beach said. “He almost lost his foot,” she said. So far, he’s undergone at least three surgeries and graphs, she added.
“His foot was almost severed,” Beach said. “This is a life-altering situation for him.”
With months of physical therapy ahead, Beach said it’s still unclear what challenges lie before Garnica, and if he’ll be able to keep his foot or return to his career as a professional bus driver. “It’s too early to say,” she said.
Garnica is faced with staggering and mounting medical expenses, as well as the monthly mortgage and utility bills.
Fellow bus operator Jayson Siegel, who also works for Suffolk County Transit, set up the Go Fund Me page for his colleague.
Siegel, who said Garnica is a close friend, was doing overtime and covering for another driver when the accident took place on September 30.
