Police: Father and 2 children killed in Massapequa crash; 2 others critically injured
Police say a vehicle was operating at a high rate of speed traveling westbound on Sunrise Highway when it collided with three vehicles.
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Police say a father and two of his children were killed Sunday evening in a multicar crash in Massapequa.
They say two others, including a 6-year-old in that car, are also in critical condition.
A vehicle was operating at a high rate of speed traveling westbound on Sunrise Highway when it collided with three additional vehicles around 7:20 p.m., according to authorities.
The deceased have been identified as 60-year-old Patrice Huntley, his 13-year-old daughter Hannah Huntley and his 10-year-old son Jeremiah Huntley.
A 6-year-old and an 18-year-old were also in the car. A 14-year-old in the car is in stable condition with back and rib injuries.
"The family was going out to get ice cream because dad just got a new job," says Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "He said goodbye not only to his own life, but to that of his daughter and his son."
A witness named Ruth says she saw the accident happen as she was leaving Master Grill and her friend called 911.
"One of the cars flipped, other cars went down to either side and it was hard," Ruth says. "It was hard to see that happen."
Jermaine Howard is a veteran who tells News 12 that Patrice Huntley helped him get a job. Howard says Huntley worked tirelessly to help veterans find employment.
Authorities say the speeding car was a 2023 Hyundai Kona driven by a 32-year-old from Lindenhurst. He was hospitalized and is in stable condition.
That driver's name has not been released. It is not known what his condition was at the time of the crash or if there were other factors that could have led to the crash besides speed.
There have been no charges yet, but police say there is an active investigation.
"There's many ways for us to document the speed and we're endeavoring to do that now," says Detective Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick. "And if the facts at that time make a charge, we absolutely as the DA told the commissioner, will charge him to the fullest extent of the law."
Police say an 83-year-old man was also injured and released from the hospital.
