Manorville, NY – A driver lost control and struck two other vehicles on a major Long Island roadway Sunday, and police said a former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and three other people including a 10-year-old boy were killed and seven others were injured.
Among those killed was Scott Martella, 29, of Northport, a communications director for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and a former aide to Cuomo.
The accident happened around 9:30 a.m. Sunday on the Long Island Expressway, near Manorville.
Police said the driver of an eastbound Subaru Outback, Carmelo Pinales, 26, of Hicksville, apparently lost control of his vehicle, crossed the grassy median, went airborne, and struck two westbound vehicles, a BMW and a Honda.
Pinales and his 27-year-old sister, Patricia Pinales, of Westbury, were killed. Carmelo’s 10-year-old son, Christopher Pinales, was hospitalized in critical condition, but died of his injuries Sunday night.
Two others in the Subaru, including Patricia’s 3-year-old daughter, were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Martella, who was driving the Honda, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. His 29-year-old fiancé, Shelbi Thurau, of Northport, was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
Cuomo said Martella served in his administration for more than four years. He called him a “dedicated, beloved public servant who worked day in and day out to improve the lives of his fellow New Yorkers.”
“Scott dedicated his all too brief life to public service and to helping others,” Bellone said in a statement.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those who lost their lives and suffered injuries in this horrible accident as well as their families.”
Four people in the BMW were also treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Suffolk County police said detectives were investigating reports that the driver of the Subaru was speeding.
