Family remembers Greece woman killed in motorcycle crash

HILTON, N.Y. (WHEC) — A Greece family is mourning the loss of 23-year-old Trystan Sylvester after her life was taken suddenly in a crash over the weekend.

News10NBC spoke with her family, and her sister, Kourtney Zelazny says, Trystan was an artist and loved to help people. She was working toward a dream of becoming a police officer.

"It’s not supposed to be anybody, but it wasn’t supposed to be my sister and it was, so it can be anyone,” Zelazny said, holding back tears.

Known to her family as Trystan Summer, the 23-year-old was always smiling and had a passion for putting others before herself. She loved her motorcycle and in her time off the bike, she always had a paintbrush in her hand. Inside her grandparents’ house in Hilton, there were dozens of paintings along the walls that Trystan had done over the years.

"She was an amazing artist, and she was a black belt in Taekwondo. She loved her niece and she just found out that she has another niece or nephew on the way and I know she loves them very much,” Zelazny said.

The last video Zelazny took of her baby sister, was telling her that she was pregnant with baby number two. Zelazny also told us a remarkable story about a 14-year-old hero who tried to save her sisters’ life the night of the crash on West Ridge Road.

"I spoke to a woman that was one of the first ones to call 911 and she said her 14-year-old niece ran to the accident to pull her sister from the bike. She’s a hero at just at 14-years-old. People tried to give her CPR.”

When they were younger, the plan was to build a life on their grandparents’ property of 60 years in Hilton.

"We had plans since we were like five and seven years old for me to build next door which I did this last year and she was eventually going to live in this house,” Zelazny added.

Side by side, or miles apart, Kourtney says they’ll always be sisters connected by the heart.

"I’m so proud of my sister, my mom loves her too. Just hold your family and your friends tighter don’t hold grudges, tell them that you love them every time you see them.”

Kourtney says Trystan will be laid to rest this weekend.

Family and friends are invited to call Sunday, Sept. 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, 735 East Avenue in Hilton. Trystan’s Memorial Service will be at St Paul Lutheran Church, 158 East Ave in Hilton at 5:30 p.m. following the calling hours on Sunday.

Greece Police say the crash is still under investigation. The driver of the SUV Trystan hit has been charged with DWI.

A GoFundMe created to cover final expenses has raised more than $7,000 as of Thursday night.