Cops: Man texting just before fatal crash

A West Hempstead man was texting just before he crashed his car into a tree, killing himself Thursday in Garden City, Nassau County police said.

Michele Guglielmi, 59, of West Hempstead was driving a 1998 Volvo east on Stewart Avenue at about 9:49 p.m. when his car crossed into the westbound lanes and struck a tree on the north side of the roadway east of Kildare Road, police said.

"During the investigation it was determined that the victim had been texting on his cellphone just prior to the accident," police said in a news release.

Guglielmi was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced at 10:23 p.m.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check and tests to its brakes, police said.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477. All calls will be kept confidential.