Pier 22 employee called 'beam of light' killed in morning crash

BRADENTON -- Two young women died in a hit-and-run crash after a 16-year-old ran a red light at 2 a.m. Thursday, according to a press release from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Gabriella "Gigi" Longpre, 22, of Bradenton, and Jessica Costanzo, 23, of Ven

ice, were killed in the crash at State Road 70 and 26th Street west, according to the press release. The 16-year-old was identified as Emerson Herrera.

Customers, staff and the owner of the Pier 22 restaurant in downtown Bradenton were distraught Thursday with the news that Longpre, one of the restaurant's most adored servers, had died in the traffic crash.

"She was truly an angel," a somber Pier 22 owner and President Hugh Miller said of Longpre who had worked herself up from hostess to banquet server over five years at the restaurant at 1200 1st Ave. W., Bradenton.

Longpre and Costanzo were heading west on State Road 70 in a white 2012 Volkswagen Passat at 2:09 a.m. when a Ford Explorer heading north on 26th Street West ran a red light and collided with the side of their car, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. Neither Longpre, who was driving, nor Costanzo, were wearing seat belts, according to the FHP report.

Witnesses said Herrera who was driving a Ford Explorer got out of his vehicle and into a private vehicle before law enforcement arrived on scene. Troopers said they believe Herrera, who lives in Oneco, was alone in the Explorer, though they're still interviewing witnesses. Herrera is in Manatee Memorial Hospital in serious condition.

Herrera has a long arrest record including charges for accessory after the fact for murder, criminal mischief, and driving without a valid license in 2012, according to Manatee County court records. Herrera's case for accessory to murder was making its way through the courts Thursday and he was out of jail on his own recognizance.

Herrera, who has several tattoos, is enrolled at Horizons Academy, an alternative high school, said Manatee County School District spokesperson Mike Barber.

Troopers are still determining whether the accident was alcohol-related. Charges are pending, according to the report.

Longpre was so impressive when first interviewed as a hostess that Pier 22 broke an unwritten rule not to hire anyone younger than 18. She was still 16 when she was hired, said Greg Campbell, Pier 22's executive chef and general manager.

"She was outstanding, mature, educated, smiling, happy, utterly a beam of light in the restaurant," Campbell said. "A restaurant is a close-knit business, just like a family, and Gigi was someone who kept the family together. She was helpful, creative, thoughtful, always smiling. Everyone knew her, from our regulars to well-known people in town."

Campbell said the restaurant will work with Longpre's family to do whatever they want to honor her memory.

"She was one of the nicest people you will ever meet," said fellow Pier 22 employee Jennifer Fulton. "There is not a good enough word in the dictionary to describe how fantastic she was."

Miller, who is president of the board at Saint Stephen's Episcopal School in Bradenton, said Longpre "lit up a room when she walked in. She was loved by everyone she worked with and was truly a shining star on a daily basis. She will just be incredibly missed beyond words by all of us."

Longpre graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School where she was an athlete, Miller said.

Longpre has been highly sought after to work with local sports teams because she is so inspirational and such a gifted athlete herself, Miller added.

"I know she was hoping to work with Saint Stephen's lacrosse team," Miller said. "She also had a heart for Cardinal Mooney's basketball team."

-- Education reporter Meghin Delaney contributed to this report.

This story was originally published November 21, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Pier 22 employee called 'beam of light' killed in morning crash ."