Michael Brown, a 2008 graduate of Greenport High School, was set to graduate in 2012, according to his Facebook page. He was born with cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair, although he could walk.
Despite his troubles, teachers said, he never felt sorry for himself. He enjoyed basketball and television and had hopes of one day attending Harvard, Mr. Brown told the high school newspaper, The Quill, in a profile story in 2005.
Police say Mr. Brown was driving a 2000 Ford Focus south on Route 63 near Wildwood Lake Bowl about 7:40 a.m. when he entered Route 51 and was struck by a northbound Suffolk Transit bus driven by John Bravata, 56, of Ronkonkoma. Mr. Brown died at the scene.
Hundreds of people have since called him an inspiration on two Facebook fan pages dedicated to his memory.
"You always brought a smile to anyone who saw u, R.I.P Mike you will be terribly missed," one poster said. "You were [truly] an inspiration to everyone who had the honor of knowing you and loving you. I know [you're] up in heaven now smiling at all of us," another said.
In the 2005 article, Mr. Brown told the newspaper he had nothing but love for the people in Greenport. "I'm happy people think of me as their inspiration. I look at all the students as inspiration," he said.
Greenport Superintendent Michael Comanda said that although Mr. Brown had already graduated, students and faculty were severely shaken over his loss. Mr. Comanda said students would be offered grief counseling as Mr. Brown had befriended many over the years.
"He was a very special, unique young man who gave of himself," Mr. Comanda said. "The guy could brighten your darkest day."
Scott Loper of Mattituck, who was on his way to class at the college, was several cars behind Mr. Brown, waiting to merge with Route 51, when the crash happened.
It appeared Mr. Brown had tried to make a right onto Route 51 when the bus, which he estimated was traveling at least 50 mph, hit him, he said. The other cars stopped and a few people began dialing 911. "People were just sitting at the stop sign because they didn't know what to do," he said.
There were 15 people on the bus including the driver, none of whom were seriously injured. The passengers were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead and Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, police said.
Route 51 was closed for about four hours during the investigation. No charges have been filed.
vchinese@timesreview.com