Speeding driver dies in fiery crash on Southern State, police say

A Queens man was killed early Sunday after his car went out of control while speeding on the Southern State Parkway in West Islip and crashed into an overpass wall, New York State Police said.

Dexter Chung, 24, of Rosedale was driving a 2007 Honda S2000 east on the parkway just after midnight "at a high rate of speed" when the car swerved out of control and struck a divider near Exit 39, Deer Park Avenue, said State Police investigator Charles Knapp.

Chung's vehicle then became airborne and struck the side of the Udall Road overpass, finally coming to rest in the westbound lanes of the parkway, he said.

Chung, who was alone in the car, was killed on impact, Knapp said.

Meanwhile, a motorist in the westbound lanes was unable to avoid crashing into the Honda and rear-ended it, causing the Honda to burst into flames, he said. Another westbound driver, trying to avoid the disabled cars, lost control and hit a guardrail, Knapp said.

Several people from both of those cars suffered minor injuries, including neck, back and knee pain, and were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, he said.

Both directions of the parkway between exits 39 and 40 were shut down for about six hours as police investigated the scene.

Knapp said that stretch of road is "straight and level," and is not known for a high number of crashes.