Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Two people were killed in separate single-car crashes early Sunday morning in Nassau County, according to police reports from both Nassau County and New York State authorities.
The first fatal crash occurred just after 3 a.m. on Merrick Road in Massapequa, according to Nassau County police. A 20-year-old driver operating a BMW lost control of the vehicle near Cedar Shore Drive and struck a tree. The driver, who was the only occupant of the car, was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.
The second deadly crash happened approximately one hour later on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 13 in North Valley Stream at about 4 a.m., according to New York State Police. State troopers responding to the scene found a Hyundai Sonata on the right shoulder that had collided with a tree, officials said.
The Hyundai was carrying five occupants at the time of the crash. “Deodat J. Ramotar, age 35 of Jamaica, Queens and the front seat passenger were uninjured,” state police said in a statement. “Two of the three rear seat passengers were transported to Jamaica Hospital to be treated for their injuries. One of the rear seat passengers succumbed to their injuries at scene.”
State police determined that Ramotar had been traveling “at a speed too fast for conditions and was intoxicated,” according to their statement. Following the crash investigation, Ramotar was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter — operating motor vehicle while impaired causing death, vehicular manslaughter — recklessly causing death, and other offenses, according to police.
Police said the Southern State crash remains under investigation. Authorities did not immediately provide details about the identity of the person who died in the rear seat of the Hyundai.
Location & Road Context
The crashes occurred on two major Nassau County roadways within an hour of each other. Merrick Road in Massapequa is a heavily traveled east-west corridor that runs parallel to the Southern State Parkway. The Southern State Parkway crash site near Exit 13 in North Valley Stream is located in western Nassau County, close to the Queens border.
Both locations see significant traffic volume during peak hours, though the early morning timing of these crashes occurred during typically lighter traffic periods.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Southern State Parkway crash has resulted in serious criminal charges against the driver. Ramotar faces multiple felony charges including two counts of vehicular manslaughter — one for operating while impaired causing death and another for recklessly causing death — in addition to the DWI charge and other offenses, according to state police.
The investigation into the Southern State crash is ongoing, with state police continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision. No charges have been announced in connection with the Massapequa crash, as that incident involved a single occupant who died from his injuries.
Broader Impact
These fatalities add to Long Island’s significant traffic safety challenges. According to a Newsday investigation, traffic crashes occur on average every seven minutes on Long Island, resulting in death, injury, or significant property damage. The investigation found that traffic crashes killed more than 2,100 people between 2014 and 2023 and seriously injured more than 16,000 people across the region.