Farmingdale teen hit, killed while walking on parkway, cops say

A Farmingdale teenager was killed while walking along the Bethpage State Parkway in South Farmingdale on Saturday night, State Police said.

The victim was identified as John J. Ortiz, 16.

Police said the teen was struck shortly before 11:30 p.m. when state troopers from the Farmingdale barracks responded to the parkway on a report of a motor vehicle-pedestrian accident.

The collision occurred one-quarter mile north of the Southern State Parkway. The southbound vehicle struck Ortiz, who was walking partially in the right southbound lane of the Bethpage State Parkway, police said. Ortiz and Michael Rizzo, 17, of North Massapequa, were seen earlier walking in the roadway by witnesses.

Police said the operator of a 2006 Toyota did not see Ortiz and struck him. Ortiz was transported to St. Joseph Hospital by a Nassau County police ambulance. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Rizzo was not injured.

The operator of the vehicle remained at the scene and the investigation is continuing, police said.

Bethpage State Parkway was closed for several hours in both directions following the accident.

State Police said anyone who may have witnessed the accident could contact Troop L Headquarters in Farmingdale at 631-756-3300.