Hewlett High School student fatally struck at LIRR station

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John Sabu, 15, a Hewlett High School sophomore, was struck and killed by a Long Island Rail Road train at the Hewlett station near 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 6. Sabu was reported missing that Friday and was last seen walking in and around Hewlett Harbor.

Counseling staff was made available to district students and staff on Sept. 7 and 8, and will be available in each of the school buildings throughout the week, Hewlett-Woodmere School District officials said.

In a letter sent to parents and guardian, Hewlett-Woodmere Superintendent Dr. Ralph Marino Jr. said: “It is important that we allow students to speak with one another, with you, and the with professionals about their feelings. If possible, conversations should avoid the specific details about the tragedy and focus more on the grief and bereavement. It is imperative that all of our students know that the entire community is available to support them in any way necessary. “

Marino noted that the National Association of Psychologists’ website and its resources to help students in the aftermath of Sabu’s death. Go to www.nasponline.org.

Visitation is on Sept. 9 at the Park Funeral Chapel in Garden City Park. The funeral mass is on Sept. 10 at St. Mary Syro Malabar Catholic Church in Old Bethpage.

Train service was suspended between Valley Stream and Far Rockaway for nearly two hours because of the incident, according to LIRR spokesman Aaron Donovan.