2 dead in wrong-way crash on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue, police say

The driver who State Police said caused a wrong-way crash that killed him and a young Hicksville woman Tuesday night in East Quogue has been identified as Gumercindo Tinit-Tezen, 28, of Mastic, police said Wednesday.

State Police said Michelle Navas, 28, was killed when the 2008 Toyota Camry she was driving westbound on Sunrise Highway was struck by a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 being driven by Tinit-Tezen eastbound in the westbound lanes.

The crash occurred east of Exit 64, Quogue Riverhead Road, at about 10 p.m. Navas was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police said Tinit-Tezen died after being transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead.

Additional details have not been released by police, pending the outcome of the investigation.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”