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HUNTINGTON
Witnesses Sought In Fatal Accident
Businessman killed in crash on Route 25A
By Sara-Megan Walsh/swalsh@longislandernews.com
A Huntington man was killed in a motor vehicle crash
last Wednesday in which police are still uncertain the cause.
Robert Visser, 53, was driving along East Main Street in Centerport on
Jan. 27 when his vehicle fatally collided head-on with one driven by Gabby
Gold, 45, of Fort Salonga. His family and friends recalled the kind-hearted
businessman while struggling to come to terms with the accident; the cause
of which remains unknown.
Everyone who met him was inspired to be a better person and to live
out their lives to the fullest, the family said in a statement.
Suffolk County police reported that Visser was driving westbound on East
Main Street at approximately 7:25 p.m. when he collided head-on with a
2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 driven eastbound by Gold. His 1996 Honda Civic
spun 180 degrees, hitting the guardrail and coming to a stop in the westbound
lane, Centerport Fire Chief Robert Ciafardoni said. Golds vehicle
came to a stop sideways, blocking both lanes of Route 25A.
We dont know the cause of the crash. Someone crossed over
the double yellow line, but there are no witnesses other than the female
driver of the Mercedes, said Suffolk Det. Lt. Thomas OHeir.
A Good Samaritan pulled over at the site of the accident and began administering
CPR to Visser, the fire chief said, as his crew arrived. Approximately
40 firefighters were attempting to extract the victim from his vehicle
when Centerport Fire Department Medical Officer Jack Geffken pronounced
Visser dead at the scene. Gold was transported to Huntington Hospital
for non-life-threatening injuries.
Both vehicles have been impounded for routine safety checks. OHeir
said an investigation remains ongoing as police are awaiting the county
medical examiners report to determine if Visser had any medical
condition that may have played a role in the crash. Suffolk police are
asking any witnesses to call 631-854-8252.
Heidi Visser, Roberts wife, said her husband was an architect who
founded Visser Software services in 1993, a worldwide company that created
programs for facility management services including ShowRac.
He had such a curious mind. Whenever he learned of new things, he
would figure how it could be applied to his interest, Heidi said.
He was always on the cutting edge with his curiosity.
A family man, Robert Visser spent much of his spare time with his daughters,
was involved in the Kiwanis Club, a former Boy Scout troop leader and
an avid reader, his wife said.
Heidi has retained attorney Carol L. Schlitt to privately look into the
circumstances leading up to Roberts death. Schlitt has asked anyone
who witnessed or knows information about the accident to contact her at
631-425-9775 or Carol@SchlittLaw.com.
Robert is survived by his wife; his daughters, Julie and Kristi; his sister,
Verena Aibel; and brother, Kenneth Visser. In lieu of flowers, the family
has requested donations be sent to the Waldorf School of Garden City at
225 Cambridge Ave., Garden City, NY 11530 or www.waldorfgarden.org.
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A head-on collision along Centerports
stretch of East Main Street on the evening of Jan. 27 killed Huntington
businessman Robert Visser.
Photo by Steve Silverman.
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