'Beautiful' dancer killed after car crashes into her and brothers during jog
A 22-year-old ballroom dancer has lost her life while out jogging with her two younger brothers after a vehicle struck them.
Ilona Kaydanov, a vibrant member of Dance With Us Long Island, was running along a road in Commack, Suffolk County, New York state, when a 2022 Chrysler Voyager collided with the trio.
Suffolk County police rushed to the scene, and all three siblings were rushed to local hospitals. Ilona Kaydanov later died of her injuries at South Shore University Hospital.
Dennis Kaydanov, aged 20, and Joseph Kaydanov, aged 13, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were admitted to Good Samaritan University Hospital for medical care. Joseph suffered a broken leg and a broken collarbone, necessitating surgery.
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Severed penis discovered lying on the ground outside petrol station car parkThe driver of the Chrysler Voyager, 44-year-old Francis Floyd, escaped unharmed, as did the vehicle's two adult passengers, a 44-year-old woman and a 64-year-old man.
Video footage from ABC7 captured the somber scene, with the black vehicle displaying an open side door and numerous police officers in attendance. Authorities have not announced any charges as of yet, but the driver's vehicle has been impounded for a safety inspection, and a thorough investigation into the incident is underway.
Ilona Kaydanov, known for her dedication and extraordinary talent, leaves behind cherished memories at Dance With Us Long Island. Studio owner Stephanie Falciano said: "She was like a daughter to me and just the most incredible, beautiful creature inside and out. The hardest worker, smart, talented, and beautiful. The world has lost today."
Lubov Kaydanov, Ilona's grandmother, told ABC7: "I don't feel nothing. God has to take me, I am old. She is young." The 22-year-old worked in communications and recently obtained an MBA in marketing from Stony Brook University.
Local residents have voiced concerns about speeding vehicles on Harned Road- however it is uncertain whether speeding played a role in the tragic collision.
Friends and acquaintances took to social media to pay tribute to Ilona Kaydanov, remembering her as "ambitious and kind." One post read, "I am so devastated by this news. Ilona Kaydanov was extremely smart, talented, ambitious, and kind." Another mourner said: "Absolutely tragic… she is a beautiful soul that will be greatly missed. May God bless her and her family at this time."