Police: East Meadow man identified as passenger killed in wrong-way DWI crash on Sunrise Highway
Investigators at the scene of a two-vehicle accident that closed all westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes of Sunrise Highway in Massapequa early Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Credit: Howard Schnapp
The passenger who died in a wrong-way drunken driving crash Tuesday has been identified as an East Meadow man, Nassau County police said.
Anthony Sylvia, 28, was riding in a car driven by Michael Bantel, 27, of Massapequa, who was arraigned Wednesday on manslaughter and other charges.
Bantel's car crossed the median on eastbound Sunrise Highway about 4:45 a.m., drove into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on with a 2014 Ford F-150 XLT truck driven by a woman, 37, police said.
Bantel, of 554 Central Ave., was arraigned Wednesday on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor assault. His license was also suspended.
Bail was set at $500,000 and he was represented by Legal Aid, which does not comment on cases.
Police said Sylvia died at a hospital from internal injuries.
The pickup truck driver was treated at a hospital for lacerations, contusions and head, knee and back pain, police said.
Investigators at the scene of a two-vehicle accident with serious injury that closed all westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes of Sunrise Highway in Massapequa early Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Credit: Howard Schnapp
With Gary Dymski
'We have to figure out what happened to these people' More than 100 women have been found dead outside on Long Island since 1976. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn and Newsday investigative reporter Sandra Peddie have this exclusive story.
'We have to figure out what happened to these people' More than 100 women have been found dead outside on Long Island since 1976. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn and Newsday investigative reporter Sandra Peddie have this exclusive story.
