Cops: East Meadow Man Killed in Sunrise Highway Crash

An East Meadow man was killed Tuesday morning after riding in a car with a drunk driver who crashed head-on into oncoming traffic, according to Nassau County Police.

Cops said Michael Bantel, 27, of Massapequa, was driving east on Sunrise Highway at 4:45 a.m. when the crash occurred.

Bantel, who police said was driving drunk, crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into another car near Broadway.

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Bantel’s passenger, Anthony Sylvia, 28, of East Meadow, was rushed to a nearby hospital but died of internal injuries, police said.

The driver of the other car, a 37-year-old woman, was hospitalized with various lacerations and contusions, as well as head, knee, and back pain, cops said. Bantel was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries, cops said.

Bantel is charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, third-degree assault, and driving while intoxicated. He will be arraigned Wednesday at the hospital.

Photo via Google Maps

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