Empire Football League

Pictured prominently Wednesday on the team's Web site was a picture of the youth commanding a golf cart at one of the team's games last season.

The Mechanicville teen was a game-day intern on the semi-professional football team's undefeated 2005 championship squad. He zoomed around Bleeker Stadium in Albany, helping with pre-game organization.

The position gave him a chance to be closer to his father, Joseph Barbagallo.

"The team owner, Frank Rogers, is in shock, very surprised and stunned, as are all of us," team communications director James Malone said. "He was there whenever we needed him. He was a lot of fun to be around, had a great sense of humor and was very friendly and outgoing."

Barbagallo was a backseat passenger in a car that veered into oncoming traffic on Route 146 near Pruyn Hill Road in Halfmoon Tuesday night.

The accident occurred at 9:51 p.m. on a winding stretch of road when a car driven by Barbagallo's friend Ryan O'Connor, 18, of Rexford swerved into the westbound lane and struck a pickup truck driven by Shane Nolan, 25, of Eagle Bridge.

A third car, driven by Kelly Wilson, 17, of Mechanicville, hit O'Connor's car broadside.

A preliminary investigation by State Police indicated O'Connor fell asleep at the wheel, but neither alcohol nor excessive speed were involved in the accident. The investigation is continuing.

Barbagallo was not wearing a seat belt, but could have survived the crash had he been buckled in, according to Trooper Maureen Tuffey.

He was pronounced dead at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy. The cause of death is pending autopsy results.

Mechanicville High School Principal G. Michael Apostol said the school will honor Barbagallo, who was in his junior year, with a moment of silence before classes today. He had transferred into the school two years earlier.

Barbagallo was a member of the school's chorus last year, but dropped the activity to focus on academics.

"He was well-liked by the students," Apostol said. "My prayers go out to the family."

O'Connor was treated for two broken legs at Albany Medical Center Hospital, and another passenger, Ashten Teal, 17, of Mechanicville, was treated for neck and back injuries.

State Police said the three teens appeared headed for home at the time of the accident.

Drivers Wilson and Nolan were taken to Saratoga Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Rick Clemenson can be reached at 454-5030 or by e-mail at rclemenson@timesunion.com. Staff writers Dennis Yusko and Christen Deming contributed to this story.