Nassau officials: Victims of fatal Massapequa crash were wearing seatbelts when they were hit
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder says they have confirmed a "high rate of speed," and are now narrowing it down to what the exact speed was. He says they are testing the 32-year-old driver's blood.
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Nassau County officials say the father and his two children who were killed in a high-speed Massapequa crash were all wearing seatbelts and following the rules of the road when they were hit.
Further Coverage: Father and 2 children killed; 2 others critically injured
A 32-year-old Lindenhurst man hit Patrice Huntley's car when he and his family were stopped at a traffic light on Sunday. The crash killed Huntley, as well as his daughter and son.
Huntley's stepdaughter and step granddaughter were critically injured in the crash.
"That poor family out to go and celebrate a new job, everybody in the car, all wearing seatbelts, all following the vehicle and traffic law, stopped at a red light like they're supposed to," says Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "And then they got blasted in the back."
No charges have been filed in the crash, but police say their investigation is not finished.
Ryder says they have confirmed a "high rate of speed," and are now narrowing it down to what the exact speed was. He says they are testing the 32-year-old driver's blood.
"Toxicology will tell us what was inside that blood," Ryder says. "When the Medical Examiner's office has that, they will release that to homicide, and then we will make that public."
According to a GoFundMe set up by the victims’ family to raise money for burial expenses and long-term care for the surviving children, they are hopeful that the driver or drivers are prosecuted.
Those who knew the victim's family also allege that the crash was caused by someone drag racing, but Nassau County police have not confirmed that.
News 12 asked Commissioner Ryder whether police are looking into a second car.
He says if there is a second vehicle, they will eventually be caught once all the evidence is put together.
The police commissioner says investigators are also pulling video from all over Sunrise Highway.
Further Coverage: Former colleague: Victim in Massapequa crash was Marine who worked to help veterans
A manager of one business confirmed to News 12 that detectives came to look at their video.
