Sunrise Highway crash in Holbrook kills driver, police say

A driver was killed early Monday morning in Holbrook after he rear-ended a disabled flatbed truck, according to the police in Suffolk County, where more people die from automobile crashes than anywhere else in New York State.

A police news release identified the man as Michael Melchiore, 47, of Babylon. Melchiore's passenger, 42-year-old Tisha Mannella, of Mastic, was seriously injured and hospitalized at Stony Brook University Hospital, according to the release.

The flatbed-truck driver, Shane Aiello, 54, of Farmingdale, was treated for minor injuries at Long Island Community Hosptial in East Patchogue, the release said.

In a brief interview, Aiello confirmed he had been on the side of the road when the flatbed truck was rear-ended. He said he wasn’t doing well but didn’t want to speak further.

Police said the crash happened about 5:54 a.m. on westbound Sunrise Highway between Waverly Avenue and Nicolls Road — exits 52 and 51. The flatbed truck, a 2000 International Harvester, was disabled in the right lane when Melchiore drove his 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis into the truck's rear, the department said.

The department didn't say whether it is known what caused the driver to rear-end the truck or how fast the Grand Marquis was traveling.

Late last month, Newsday reported that Suffolk had the most fatalities in the state — 113 killed, according to preliminary figures for 2020 tracked by the Albany-based Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.