BREAKING TODAY: Police reveal what was engraved into a tree after a 16-year-old boy crashed less than 10 minutes from his home on his birthday, leaving his parents to say exactly 4 WORDS

A 16-year-old boy, who had just started high school, was less than 10 minutes from his home in Long Island when he died after his car crashed into a tree.

Around 9:22 p.m. local time on Saturday, Sept. 27, officials responded to reports of a motor vehicle accident on Second Avenue, near Horton Avenue, in Calverton, the Riverhead Town Police Department said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

Detectives learned that a 16-year-old boy from Riverhead was driving a Honda Civic, traveling east on Second Avenue, when it hit a tree. The teen was transported to a medical center where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

The 16-year-old was later identified as Ostin Portillo Perdomo, RiverheadLOCAL, News 12 Long Island and Patch reported.

The boy’s aunt, Amarilis Herrera, expressed her shock when speaking with RiverheadLOCAL. He was seen leaving his house that evening at 9:15 p.m. on a home surveillance camera, just minutes before the accident.

“When they called us to tell us, I couldn’t believe it until I arrived at the hospital and saw him,” Herrera told the outlet. “We’re in shock. You see him and you can’t believe it. It’s very hard for the whole family.”

The teen was born in El Salvador and moved to the United States with his mom and sister because his mom, Sofia Portillo, wanted her children to have more opportunities, RiverheadLOCAL reported. Ostin had recently moved to a new house with Sofia, his dad Marvin and two younger siblings. On Aug. 20, he celebrated his milestone birthday and was about to start a new job, according to the outlet.

“He was a very well-behaved child,” his aunt told RiverheadLOCAL. “He was very attached to his little siblings. He would take care of them, feed them when his parents were [working].”

On Saturday, Ostin spent the morning helping his dad fix things around the house. They shared a special bond, Herrera told the outlet.

The high schooler aspired to become a lawyer or professional soccer player when he grew up. But those dreams were cut short.

After the crash, Sofia created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses for her firstborn.

“Hello, may God bless you. We are raising funds for the funeral expenses of my son, Ostin, who passed away on Saturday, September 27th, in a tragic accident,” wrote Sofia, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, in Spanish. “We ask for your help; may God richly bless you for your generosity.”

Ostin’s school shared the news of his death in a community-wide letter, according to Patch.

“It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that one of our students, Ostin Portillo, passed away this past weekend,” wrote Riverhead High School Principal Sean O’Hara, according to the outlet. “We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Ostin’s family and friends during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them.”

O’Hara continued, “A young person’s passing is always tragic, and a sudden loss like this can have a profound effect on the entire school community.”

Two days before the accident, Ostin, who attended a Christian church, told his aunt that “he was already on the path of God,” according to RiverheadLOCAL.

“We are destroyed,” Herrera told the outlet. “Marvin, my brother, is shattered, his mother is devastated — he was very special to everyone.”

An investigation into the crash is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500, extension 312.

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In a story that has gripped the nation and shattered hearts across social media, authorities in the quiet village of Corhampton, Hampshire, have revealed a chilling detail from a fatal car crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy on his birthday. The incident, which occurred less than 10 minutes from the boy’s family home, has left an entire community reeling. As investigators pieced together the final moments of young Damien “Damo” Dean’s life, they discovered a poignant engraving carved into the very tree that ended it all—a message that speaks volumes about the fleeting joy of youth and the irreversible grip of tragedy.

The crash happened in the early hours of Sunday, July 13, 2025, transforming what should have been a night of celebration into one of unimaginable sorrow. Damien, who had just turned 16 the day before, was behind the wheel of a grey Hyundai i20, a modest gift from his proud parents to mark his newfound independence. Accompanying him was his close friend, 17-year-old Mason Renhard, a fellow student known for his infectious laugh and boundless energy. The two had spent the afternoon “chilling” at a local home, as described by family friend Annabelle Jackman, whose son attended school with the boys. What began as an innocent drive home—filled with the chatter of teenage dreams and birthday anecdotes—ended abruptly at 2:47 a.m. when the vehicle veered off the road and collided with a sturdy oak tree on a narrow lane in Corhampton.

Hampshire Police were alerted by frantic reports of a single-vehicle accident. Emergency services rushed to the scene, their sirens piercing the pre-dawn silence of the rural village. But despite their valiant efforts, both Damien and Mason were pronounced dead at the site. The impact was devastating; the car’s front end crumpled like paper, and the tree stood as a silent sentinel to the wreckage. Initial reports suggest speed may have played a role, though toxicology results are pending, and no other vehicles were involved. “This was a senseless loss of two bright young lives,” said Detective Inspector Sarah Wilkins in a press briefing on Tuesday. “Our thoughts are with the families as they navigate this profound grief.”

As news of the crash spread like wildfire through the tight-knit community, tributes began to pour in. Handwritten notes and bouquets of flowers—lilies for Damien’s favorite color, white roses for Mason’s love of gardening—piled up at the crash site. Social media erupted with hashtags like #JusticeForDamoAndMason and #HampshireHeartsBroken, where locals shared memories of the boys’ escapades: Damien’s star turn in the school play, Mason’s victory in the regional soccer tournament. “They were the kind of kids who lit up a room,” posted one teacher on X (formerly Twitter). “Every parent’s worst nightmare doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

But it was the police revelation on October 2—nearly three months after the incident—that truly broke the internet. During a routine forensic examination of the wreckage, officers noticed faint scratches on the bark of the impacted tree. Upon closer inspection, using specialized lighting and magnification tools, they uncovered a deliberate engraving: “Damo + Mason Forever 16.” It appeared to have been carved hastily, perhaps in the minutes leading up to the drive, using a key or pocket knife. The inscription, dated “13/7/25″—Damien’s birthday—evoked images of two friends immortalizing their bond in a moment of youthful exuberance. Was it a pact of eternal friendship? A spontaneous birthday ritual? The exact circumstances remain unclear, but the discovery has added a layer of poetic tragedy to an already devastating tale.

“This engraving wasn’t just scratches; it was a testament to their unbreakable friendship,” Wilkins explained during the briefing, her voice cracking with emotion. “It’s a reminder of how quickly life can change, especially for our young drivers.” The police have since cordoned off the tree as part of the ongoing investigation, but photos leaked to local media show the words etched deeply, as if defying time itself. Experts believe the carving occurred shortly before the crash, possibly during a brief stop en route. “The tool marks suggest it was done with intent, not in panic,” noted forensic specialist Dr. Elena Hargrove, who consulted on the case. “It’s heartbreaking to think they might have been laughing as they did it.”

The revelation hit Damien’s parents, Lisa and Mark Dean, like a second blow. The couple, both 42 and longtime residents of a cozy semi-detached home just eight minutes’ drive from the crash site, had spent the morning of July 13 baking Damien’s favorite chocolate cake and wrapping presents. Mark, a mechanic who taught his son to drive in empty parking lots, recalled the pride in his eyes when Damien passed his test a week earlier. “He was our world,” Lisa whispered to reporters outside their home, clutching a faded photo of Damien grinning on his 10th birthday. “We thought we’d have decades more.”

In the days following the crash, the Deans retreated into a fog of grief, supported by counselors and a deluge of community meals. But when police shared the engraving details privately last week, the couple emerged with a message that has resonated far beyond Hampshire. Standing hand-in-hand at a makeshift memorial beneath the tree, they faced a cluster of microphones and, in a moment captured on viral video, uttered exactly four words: “Drive safe, hug tight.” The phrase, simple yet searing, was directed not just at their lost son but at every parent watching, every teen gripping a steering wheel. It has since trended globally, inspiring safety campaigns and tearful shares from families who’ve faced similar losses.

Lisa later elaborated in an exclusive interview with the Hampshire Chronicle: “Those words on the tree… they’re a ghost of what could have been. Damien and Mason were inseparable, like brothers. If they’d just slowed down, taken a breath… But we can’t change it. So we’re saying this for the kids still out there: Drive safe, and hug your loved ones tight while you can.” Mark nodded, his eyes red-rimmed. “He was home for his birthday dinner, you know? Less than 10 minutes later, gone. It’s a blink.”

The crash has reignited national conversations about teen driving safety, a topic all too familiar in the UK where, according to the Department for Transport, drivers aged 17-19 are three times more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than those over 30. Road safety charity Brake reported a 12% uptick in youth crashes in 2025, often linked to inexperience and peer pressure. “Birthdays amplify risks,” said campaign director Sophie Chambers. “Euphoria, late nights—it’s a perfect storm.” In response, Hampshire Constabulary announced a “Hug Tight Initiative,” mandating passenger awareness workshops for new licensees, with the Deans as honorary patrons.

Mason’s family, meanwhile, has echoed the sentiment. His mother, Carla Renhard, left a note at the scene reading, “Words cannot explain the pain that we are feeling and will carry forever.” The Renhards, who run a small florist in nearby Petersfield, described Mason as the “gentle giant” who volunteered at animal shelters. “He’d have loved that tree tribute,” Carla said. “It captures their spirit—forever young, forever together.”

As October’s chill sets in, Corhampton’s lanes feel heavier, the oak tree a somber landmark. Vigils continue, with candles flickering against the bark, and the engraving now protected under a clear resin seal to preserve its message. Online, the story has amassed over 5 million views, with influencers like road safety advocate @DriveSmartUK posting: “Damo and Mason’s legacy: Four words that could save lives. #DriveSafeHugTight.”

In the end, this tragedy transcends one family’s loss. It’s a clarion call etched not just in wood, but in the collective conscience. Damien Dean’s 16th birthday was meant for cake and confetti; instead, it birthed a movement. As his parents’ four words remind us, in a world racing forward, sometimes the safest speed is the one that lets us hold on a little longer.