Felix Pantaleon, of Lindenhurst, pleads guilty to manslaughter for crash that killed Reynaldo Collado, of West Babylon

A Lindenhurst man pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges for killing the driver of an SUV and injuring four of its passengers when he slammed into it after speeding more than 100 mph on the Southern State Parkway, officials said.

Felix Pantaleon, 24, admitted weaving in and out of traffic in his 2014 Honda Civic, cutting off other vehicles and reaching speeds of up to 121 mph before rear-ending the 2009 Honda CR-V being driven by Reynaldo Collado, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a news release. 

Pantaleon faces 4 to 12 years in prison when he is sentenced next month. 

The crash, which occurred about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2024, killed Collado, 49, of West Babylon, Newsday reported at the time.

The CR-V crashed into the wooded area along the side of the highway, while the Civic hit the median before similarly stopping in the woods. One passenger sustained “serious injuries that included a fractured vertebrae and pelvis, necessitating treatment at a rehabilitation facility,” Tierney’s office said. The other three passengers also required treatment at a hospital.

Before the fatal collision, Pantaleon recorded himself driving in “this dangerous and deadly manner” with his cellphone, Tierney’s office said. In a statement, the district attorney described Pantaleon’s actions as “egregious.”

“Vehicles become lethal weapons in the hands of those who treat them like toys,” Tierney added.

On Friday, Pantaleon pleaded guilty before acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, three counts of third-degree assault and reckless driving, the district attorney said. He is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Oct. 23. 

Pantaleon's defense attorney, Vincent Bianco, did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Friday afternoon.