Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Abraham Toribio, 20, of Merrick, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the eastbound Southern State Parkway late Sunday night, according to New York State Police. The fatal collision occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday on the eastbound side of the Southern State east of Exit 29.
Police said Toribio left the roadway and struck a light pole and multiple trees before his vehicle came to rest on the shoulder. Toribio was ejected from the vehicle during the collision, state police said in an updated news release issued Tuesday.
Following the crash, Toribio was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased, according to police. State police investigators determined that unsafe speed and slippery pavement were contributing factors in the crash.
The incident was initially reported as a single-vehicle fatality on Sunday night, with police providing the victim’s identification and additional details about the circumstances in their Tuesday update. The crash investigation examined the road conditions at the time of the collision, noting the hazardous driving conditions present on the parkway.
Location & Road Context
The fatal crash occurred on the eastbound Southern State Parkway just east of Exit 29, which serves the Wantagh area. This section of the parkway has been the site of multiple serious incidents, with the Southern State recording 117 incidents in traffic databases.
The Southern State Parkway is a major east-west arterial road serving Nassau and Suffolk counties, carrying heavy commuter and recreational traffic between New York City and eastern Long Island destinations.
Broader Impact
According to a Newsday investigation, traffic crashes killed more than 2,100 people on Long Island between 2014 and 2023, with serious injuries affecting more than 16,000 people during that period. The investigation found that on average, every seven minutes a traffic crash causing death, injury or significant property damage occurs somewhere on Long Island.