I cringed when I learned what news I would be covering today.

It is now a familiar ritual and a tragic one. I drove to Medford and pulled up to a large cross hammered into the ground on Woodside Avenue and met dozens of tearful teenagers.

Among them was Carmine Luongo who just hours earlier lost his big brother in a car crash at that spot. He told me his brother, Nicholas, was out doing what kids do over the summer -- having fun and seeing friends. "Speeding, " he told me "is so stupid. I don't know why people speed. All it does is cause this," he said as he gestured to the big wooden cross now laden with photos of his brother and surrounded by flowers.

Another brother was also there, at the cross on Woodside Avenue. He told me his father would have been there too, but he was out selecting a casket.

Police said speed was certainly a factor in the crash.

The Honda was going so fast that it broke into pieces and is unrecognizable. It hit a BMW head on when it lost control and veered into oncoming traffic.

Suffolk County police said they believe believe the Honda was being driven by 20-year-old Christopher Vogel, who is in critical condition. Both Vogel and Luongo were thrown from the car and Det. Sgt. Bryan Mcmenemy told me they can't say with certainty who was driving.

Both boys were graduates of Patchogue Medford High School. Luongo was college bound and had dreams of working one day for MTV. Just three days ago his family threw him a big graduation party. He had a personality that lit up a room, his friends said today between sobs.

A neighbor was sweeping up debris in his driveway from the mangled cars. Tomas Corraco shook his head and with pained eyes told me, " I hope that what happened to this child will not go to waste. I hope these kids will learn from it."

I hope so too. That is how the only way to bear these heartbreaking assignments, with hope these tragic stories open eyes. Nearly every week this summer I have knocked on doors of parents who just learned their children were dead. I report and hope that I will not be doing this again next week.