Cops: Drugged, Speeding Driver Causes Crash That Kills 2 Lynbrook Residents

A Lynbrook man is charged with manslaughter after driving high on drugs and crashing into another car on Sunrise Highway Monday night, killing two people, according to Nassau County Police.

John Aniano, 25, was driving a 2004 Mercedes Benz west on Sunrise Highway when he rear-ended a 2005 Toyota, driven by John Jones, 54, of Lynbrook, at 8:13 p.m., police said. The impact sent the Toyota into oncoming traffic where it struck the driver’s side of a second Toyota before coming to rest east of Atlantic Avenue, cops said.

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Jones was rushed to South Nassau Communities Hospital but was pronounced dead by a hospital doctor, police said. His passenger, Sharon Rene Long, 53, of Lynbrook, was pronounced dead at the scene by a Lynbrook Fire Department medical technician, cops said.

The 67-year-old driver of the second Toyota was brought to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Aniano was hospitalized for leg injuries and was believed to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash, detectives said. Two prescription bottles were found inside his car, police said.

Aniano was charged with two counts second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, and DWAI-combined influence. He will be arraigned as soon as medically possible, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Photo: Google Maps

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