State Police: 1 dead in Southern State crash that sends car into the air

One person was confirmed dead after a car struck the median of the Southern State Parkway, went airborne and hit an oncoming vehicle in the opposite lanes late Friday, State Police said.

State Police closed the road temporarily in both directions near Exit 27 in Wantagh, between Wantagh Avenue and the Wantagh State Parkway, after the crash at 10:52 p.m. on Friday.

The driver of a 2001 Honda Accord traveling east lost control of the vehicle and crossed all the eastbound lanes before striking a metal divider in the median. That collision caused the Honda to go airborne and strike a 2001 Nissan Maxima traveling west.

The Honda's driver was pronounced dead at Nassau University Medical Center, police said. The person's identity was being withheld until family could be notified.

The occupants of the Nissan suffered minor injuries.

The driver was the only person in the Honda, police said. Further information on how many other people were involved was not available Saturday.