A section of Woodside Avenue in Medford has been renamed “Angelica Nappi Avenue” in a ceremony attended by Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, the family of Angelica Nappi, and community members. The new street sign honors Angelica Nappi, a 14-year-old from Holbrook who died in 2008 after being struck by a driver with multiple license suspensions.
Angelica was killed when the vehicle she was riding in was hit by a Jeep driven by an individual whose license had been revoked earlier that day and who had seven previous suspensions. She was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital but died three days later. The driver received a misdemeanor conviction and served less than six months in jail, leading to calls for tougher traffic safety laws.
“This is a fitting tribute to Angelica, whose life was tragically cut short by a reckless driver with a long history of license suspensions,” said DeStefano. “Naming this intersection in her honor ensures 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.”
The event included remarks from Angelica’s parents, Dawn and Joe Nappi; Sen. Dean Murray; Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne; and representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Speakers stressed the importance of efforts to prevent similar tragedies through stricter enforcement against dangerous drivers.
Legislative action followed Angelica’s death. In 2023, the state Legislature passed Angelica’s Law (2023 Bill S.4671), which Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law. Sponsored by DeStefano and Sen. Murray, the measure reduces the number of prior license suspensions needed for prosecution on first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation charges from ten to five. Penalties now include up to two years in prison and fines between $500 and $5,000.
“Let this place stand not only as a memorial, but also as a powerful reminder of our ongoing commitment to vigilance, accountability and the priceless value of every human life,” DeStefano added. “In Angelica’s name, let us continue our efforts to protect our streets and the people we love.”
The renaming covers Woodside Avenue between Mercury Avenue and County Road 101 under Resolution No. 1117-2024. The Suffolk County Department of Public Works will oversee implementation.
