Reverend Dies in Crash; Other Driver Was High on Drugs: Cops

A reverend was killed just hours after delivering a sermon at a Long Island church when a man high on drugs rear-ended his car on the Southern State Parkway in Massapequa, police said.

According to State Police, around 12:10 a.m. Friday, a 2017 Honda Accord driving in the westbound lanes of the Southern State west of Exit 30, hit the rear of a 2019 GMC, causing it to be pushed off the road and into a tree.

The driver of the GMC, the Rev. Chacko T. Mammen, 69, of North Bellmore, was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage where he died from his injuries, authorities said.

Mammen had ministered at Mar Thoma Church in Merrick on Thursday night, News 12 reported.

The driver of the Honda, 23-year-old Christopher Gomez-Almendarez, of North Baldwin, was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, third-degree assault and driving while ability impaired by drugs.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the State Police Farmingdale headquarters at 631-756-3300.