Overturned car backs up Southern State in Wantagh

An overturned car on the eastbound Southern State Parkway snarled traffic Wednesday morning near Exit 28N, Wantagh Avenue in North Wantagh, State Police said.

The driver sustained minor injuries in the 6:24 a.m. crash, state police said.

The crash followed two serious single-car crashes Tuesday, one which left a driver dead - the other which left a driver fighting for his life.

The first crash happened at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday, when a car ran off the Southern State near Exit 32 in North Amityville and struck a tree, killing Frank Vencek, 80, of upstate Worcester, police said.

The second serious crash occurred at 8:31 p.m. Tuesday on the southbound Meadowbrook Parkway near Exit M5, Hempstead Turnpike, in East Meadow.

Police said witnesses reported seeing two cars speeding but didn't know if there was a collision. One car ran off the road and struck a tree and the driver was taken to Nassau University Medical Center with serious injuries. The driver's identity has not been released.