Man killed after driving into Sunken Meadow Park toll plaza, igniting fire

The driver of a vehicle that crashed into the toll plaza of Sunken Meadow State Park, engulfing the vehicle in flames Monday morning, was killed, state park officials and state police said. 

The crash sent the vehicle up in flames and partially damaged the left side of the toll structure, closing the park Monday.

One person was found dead inside the vehicle, but police could not identify the driver or type of vehicle charred in the wreckage, police said. 

State police, state park police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the Kings Park state facility just after 11 a.m. The fire was extinguished and firefighters left the scene shortly before 1 p.m. while the acrid smell of smoke lingered.

State police crime scene investigators were examining the charred vehicle, which remained under the toll plaza. The roof of the plaza was damaged with a piece of hanging facade.

Police closed the entrance to the park and were turning away vehicles on both exits off the Sunken Meadow Parkway and Route 25A. The park's website said it was closed "until further notice."

Newsday's Maureen Mullarkey contributed to this story.

Check back for updates on this developing story.