Update: Massapequa Man Charged in Fatal Drunken Crash

Update: Police have identified the victim as Anthony Sylvia, 28, from East Meadow.

Originally published May 5, 2015

A man faces manslaughter charges after driving drunk, slamming into another car, and killing his passenger in Massapequa Tuesday morning, 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, a 28-year-old man, 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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