A sixth person has died following the multicar crash on the Long Island Expressway in Manorville Sunday.
Helen Adelson, 71, of Westhampton, succumbed to her injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital on Monday, officials say. Her husband was also among the deceased.
According to police, Carmelo Pinales, 26, of Hicksville, was driving eastbound on the LIE past exit 68 when he lost control of the vehicle around 9:30 a.m.
Pinales' Subaru Outback went airborne, flew over the median and crashed into two other vehicles traveling westbound.
Pinales, his 10-year-old son Christopher, and his 27-year-old sister Patricia were all killed in the crash. Patricia's daughter and a 21-year-old family friend were hospitalized. The group was heading to a party at Splish Splash, according to Newsday.
Also killed in the crash was Scott Martella, 29, of Northport. Martella was Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone's communications director and a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Martella was in the car with his fiancée, Shelbi Thurau, who was expected to be released from the hospital Monday.
Helen Adelson's 81-year-old husband, Isadore, died from his injuries Sunday night. Two of their friends survived, but were badly injured and are listed in fair condition.
Police are investigating whether speed and steel plates in the road were factors in the crash.
A spokesman for the Department of Transportation tells News 12 that the steel plates in the road are part of a bridge project that started last year. He says the plates will be removed by the end of next week and the department is urging all drivers to slow down and drive cautiously in that area.