Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 63-year-old Brentwood man has died following injuries sustained in an alleged drunk driving crash in Melville on December 26, according to Suffolk County police. Nelson Gonzalez, a National Guard veteran working as a nighttime security guard, was critically injured when his vehicle was struck head-on by 59-year-old John Ankelman of Farmingdale around 10 p.m.
According to police, Gonzalez was driving south on Pinelawn Road and attempting to make a left turn onto Express Drive South at a green light when Ankelman, traveling north on Pinelawn Road, struck him head-on. Police say Ankelman also had a green light at the time of the collision but was driving while intoxicated.
The crash left Gonzalez critically injured and hospitalized. His family says identification was delayed for several days because Gonzalez had forgotten his wallet that night, making it difficult for relatives to locate him in the hospital. “My brother suffered on that bed. Those injuries were really very bad,” said Louis Gonzalez, Nelson’s brother.
Gonzalez’s family says he was driving home from his job as a nighttime security guard when the collision occurred. His niece told News 12 that her uncle had forgotten his wallet, which complicated efforts to identify him at the hospital following the crash.
Ankelman has been charged with driving while intoxicated in connection with the crash. The family is now calling for additional accountability following Gonzalez’s death. “Justice for Nelson. This man has to pay for what he did,” said Louis Gonzalez.
The family is currently raising money to cover funeral costs for the National Guard veteran. News 12 reached out to the Queens District Attorney’s Office asking if charges will be upgraded now that Gonzalez has died and is waiting to hear back.
Location & Road Context
The fatal collision occurred on Pinelawn Road at Express Drive South in Melville around 10 p.m. on December 26. Pinelawn Road is a major north-south corridor in the area, with the intersection featuring traffic signals that both drivers reportedly had green lights for their respective directions of travel.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County officials report that the Queens District Attorney’s Office is serving as the special prosecutor for the case, though authorities have not explained why the case was assigned outside the typical jurisdiction. Ankelman currently faces charges of driving while intoxicated, but the status of potential upgraded charges following Gonzalez’s death remains unclear.
News 12 has contacted the Queens District Attorney’s Office seeking information about whether charges will be enhanced now that the case has become a fatality, but has not yet received a response.
Broader Impact
Under New York law, DWI cases that result in fatalities can lead to significantly enhanced charges, including vehicular manslaughter, which carries potential prison sentences of up to 15 years depending on the specific circumstances and any prior convictions.