Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 20-year-old Merrick man died in a single-vehicle crash on the Southern State Parkway late Monday night, according to New York State Police.
Abraham Toribio was driving eastbound on the Southern State Parkway just east of Exit 29 (Hicksville Road) in Wantagh when the fatal collision occurred at approximately 11:32 p.m. on December 28, NYSP reported.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Toribio left the roadway for an unknown reason and struck a light pole and multiple trees before his vehicle came to rest on the shoulder, according to state police. Toribio was ejected from the vehicle during the collision.
Emergency responders transported Toribio to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, NYSP reported.
State police determined that unsafe speed and slippery pavement were contributing factors in the collision. The combination of excessive speed and wet road conditions appears to have played a role in Toribio losing control of his vehicle before it departed the roadway.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on a stretch of the Southern State Parkway in Wantagh, just east of Exit 29 at Hicksville Road. This section of the parkway has seen significant traffic incidents, with 117 recorded incidents in traffic databases.
Recent incidents on the Southern State Parkway include fatal crashes and ongoing safety concerns. Earlier this year, another deadly crash on the parkway drew attention to safety issues along this route, and a woman accused in a separate fatal Southern State crash pleaded not guilty in March 2026, highlighting the frequency of serious collisions on this roadway.
Broader Impact
The crash underscores the dangerous combination of speed and weather conditions that frequently contribute to fatal accidents on Long Island parkways. Slippery pavement conditions, particularly during late-night hours when temperatures drop, can significantly reduce vehicle traction and increase stopping distances, making speed control critical for driver safety.