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
