Officials: 4 dead after LIE crash in Manorville

Four people were killed in a car crash on the Long Island Expressway in Manorville, according to officials. The crash happened around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Officials say 26-year old Carmelo Pinales,

News 12 Staff

Aug 22, 2016, 6:22 AM

Updated 2,895 days ago

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Four people were killed in a car crash on the Long Island Expressway in Manorville, according to officials.
The crash happened around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Officials say 26-year old Carmelo Pinales, of Hicksville, was traveling eastbound on the LIE just beyond exit 68 and lost control of his vehicle, which went airborne.
His Subaru Outback then flew over the median and crashed into two other vehicles, a BMW and a Honda, that were traveling in the westbound lanes. Pinales was pronounced dead at the scene. 
His sister, 27-year-old Patricia Pinales, of Westbury, who was the passenger in his car, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say they believe speed may have been a factor in the crash.
"The two vehicles traveling westbound probably didn't see the vehicle until it was crossing the roadway," Suffolk Police Chief of Detectives Gerard Gigante says. "There was no opportunity probably to negotiate their way out of the accident."
Officials say that it does not appear that Pinales was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
His 10-year-old son, Christopher, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition where he later died.
The other passengers in the car, 21-year-old Winnifer Garcia and Patricia Pinales' 3-year-old daughter were taken to hospitals and were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the 2014 Honda, 29-year-old Scott Martella, of Northport, was also pronounced dead at the scene. His fiancée, 29-year-old Shelbi Thurau, was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Scott Martella was a spokesman for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"Scott dedicated his all too brief life to public service and to helping others," said Bellone. "My thoughts and prayers are with all those who lost their lives and suffered injuries in this horrible accident as well as their families." 
The driver of BMW, 73-year-old Marvin Tenzer and three other passengers, all of Westhampton, were also hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries.
The LIE was closed at exit 69 westbound and exit 68 eastbound for hours due to the crash, but has since reopened.


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