A 29-year-old aide to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was among six killed and five wounded in a three-vehicle crash on the Long Island Expressway in Manorville on Sunday morning, authorities said.
Carmelo Pinales, 26, of Hicksville, was driving a Subaru Outback eastbound when he lost control of the car. It crossed the median, went airborne and struck two vehicles heading westbound, a BMW and a Honda, near Exit 68 at 9:35 a.m., Suffolk County police said. Pronounced dead at the scene were Pinales, his 27-year-old sister, Patricia, of Westbury, and the driver of the Honda, Scott Martella of Northport, who was a spokesman for Bellone and a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“Scott was a dedicated, beloved public servant who worked day in and day out to improve the lives of his fellow New Yorkers,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Long Island is a better place today because of his service and dedication to the community.”
Carmelo’s 10-year-old son, Cristopher Pinales, also from Hicksville, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he later died. Two other passengers in the Subaru, 21-year-old Winnifer Garcia of Hempstead, and Patricia’s 3-year-old daughter, also of Westbury, were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the BMW, 73-year-old Marvin Tenzer, and his passengers, Sandra Tenzer, Helen Adelson and Isidore Adelson, all of Westhampton, were taken to local hospitals. The Tenzers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Isidore Adelson, 81, died of his injures at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. His 71-year-old wife, Helen, died at Stony Brook University Hospital on Monday.
Martella’s 29-year-old fiancée, Shelbi Thurau, also of Northport, was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators are probing reports that the driver of the Subaru was speeding. The LIE was closed for several hours while investigators were on the scene.
“The hundreds of people Scott has worked with over the years and the thousands of people whose lives he has positively impacted would describe him as nothing short of an amazing person,” Bellone said in a statement. “I asked Scott to join my team because I admired his intelligence, his wisdom, and love of community and people. I will miss Scott’s smile, his advice, his laugh, his sense of humor, his dedication and his drive.”
Seventh Squad detectives impounded all three vehicles. They are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information regarding this crash to call them at 631-852-8752.
