Two WI firefighters struck and injured by drunk driver; WIHS student arrested and charged
BY JONATHAN MARCONI AND CAROLYN JAMES

Jillian Lazinski, arrested and charged with drunk driving, and fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle accident that left two firefighters seriously injured.

Two West Islip volunteer firefighters are recovering from serious injuries they sustained after being hit by a West Islip High School student who police charged with driving while intoxicated last week.

"They are in serious condition but are stable and making progress," said West Islip Fire Chief Mike Delgado whose department is maintaining a vigil with the families of the firefighters at the Good Samaritan Hospital where the men are being treated.

The two volunteers are Thomas (known as TJ) Devlin and Joseph Ortiz. Both sustained a head trauma and other injuries after being struck by 2005 Honda driven by Jillian M. Lazinsky, 17, of 20 Seabreeze La., West Islip. Lazinsky fled the scene following the accident, which took place at Union Boulevard and Higbie Lane Thursday July 19, at about 1 a.m. West Islip School officials confirmed that Lazinsky will be entering her senior year in September.

Devlin, 19, of 610 Cadman Avenue, West Islip and Ortiz, 18, of 681 Alwick Ave., West Islip, who are close friends outside of the fire service, had just completed some mandatory training at West Islip Fire Headquarters, according to fire department officials. They had taken a break with fellow firefighter Alyssa Saenz, 20 of 1231 Minerva Ave., West Islip and were returning to the firehouse to complete a night tour with the rescue company, which is a requirement of their regular training, said Delgado. They were struck crossing the intersection. Saenz was not injured.

TJ Devlin

Police rushed to the scene and Suffolk County Dets. Brendan O'Hara and Mark Bendetti, who were in the area on an unrelated assignment, received a description of the vehicle and operating on information provided to them by a witness, located Lazinsky on Udalia Road, a block away. She was placed under arrest and taken to the Third Precinct where she submitted to a blood test. The results of that test are pending. She was held for arraignment at First District Court, Central Islip on Friday.

Devlin joined the Department in September, 2006 and works with computers and is a college student. Ortiz, who joined the department in October, 2006, works in security and also attends school. Both are single and are members of the fire department's Hook and Ladder Company, said Delgado.

Joe Ortiz

Delgado said that the initial concern was for the head trauma they sustained but that as they are recovering from those injuries, they are being treated for broken bones and internal injuries.

Lazinsky's attorney said his client and her family "were devastated," by the incident and are praying for the quick recovery of the two firefighters. "They said that from the moment I met them," said the attorney, Dave Beso of Bay Shore. "Jillian is trying to grapple with the enormity and the severity of what happened."

Lazinsky is an honor student at West Islip High School and has a part time job, said Beso, adding she has never been in trouble before.

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