Numerous Crashes As Winter Weather Hits Long Island
By Hank Russell
It was a deadly day on the roads this past Sunday as police reported four deaths and numerous injuries on Long Island’s roads.
New York State Police (NYSP) troopers responded to two fatal crashes on the Southern State Parkway on the same day.
On December 14 at approximately 10:35 p.m., the NYSP responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on the eastbound side of the parkway, east of Exit 25S (Newbridge Road), in North Bellmore.
An investigation determined that a 2023 black Ram pickup truck, operated by Charles F. Kenney, age 50 of Seaford, was not wearing his seatbelt while traveling at an unsafe speed before he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway and struck the stone wall of the Newbridge Road overpass. Kenney’s truck came to rest, blocking the center and right lanes of the parkway.
Kenney was transported to the Nassau University Medical Center with serious physical injuries, where he was later pronounced dead by medical personnel.
Earlier that day, state police responded to a fatal car crash on the Southern State that killed one person and injured two. The driver was allegedly intoxicated.
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, on December 14 at approximately 4:00 a.m., NYSP troopers responded to the westbound Southern State Parkway in the area of exit 13, near Central Avenue in Wantagh, for reports of a one-car crash.
Upon arrival, troopers observed a Hyundai Sonata on the right shoulder that had struck a tree. The driver, Deodat J. Ramotar, age 35 of Jamaica, Queens, and the front seat passenger were uninjured. Two of the three rear-seat passengers were transported to Jamaica Hospital to be treated for their injuries. One of those passengers succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
Ramotar was charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Vehicular Manslaughter – Operate Motor Vehicle Impaired Causing Death, Vehicular Manslaughter – Recklessly causing death, two counts of Assault in the Third Degree, Assault in the Second Degree – Recklessly Causing Serious Physical Injury, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree and various Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. Ramotar was processed and transported to the Nassau County Detention Center.
LILP asked the NYSP’s Troop L in Farmingdale if the weather played a role. “Speed for both accidents played a primary factor. Alcohol as well for one,” they replied.
Nassau County police responded to a fatal one-car crash in Massapequa that same day. At 3:09 a.m., a 20-year-old male was operating a 2019 BMW on Merrick Road when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree in the vicinity of Cedar Shore Drive, as LILP previously reported. The operator, and sole occupant of the vehicle, suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local area hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a hospital physician.
There was also another fatality on the road in Nassau, this one involving a pedestrian. On December 14 at 5:33 p.m., Azucena Lopez Rodriguez, 46, of Lynbrook,d was crossing Sunrise Highway at the intersection of Horton Avenue when she was struck by a 2012 Hyundai being operated by an 18-year-old male, LILP previously reported.
An investigation for both incidents is underway.
LILP reached out the NCPD to see if weather played a factor and is waiting to hear back.
There were no reports of any traffic fatalities in Suffolk, but Patch reported that the Suffolk County Police Department logged in 200 crashes between midnight and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.