Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Police Release Names of 4 Killed in Long Island Crash

A pickup truck collided with a car carrying five family members Monday night, police say.

Updated July 6 at 7:10 p.m. with names of the victims killed in the crash.

Four people were killed, one person was seriously injured and a baby was hospitalized following a fiery Yaphank crash involving a pickup truck Monday night, police say.

According to authorities, a 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling southbound on Yaphank Middle Island Road near Rustic Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a 2014 Nissan Altima, carrying four adults and a baby, traveling northbound at 10:46 p.m.

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Both the Nissan and the pickup truck caught fire from the collision, police say.

Gustave Geyer, 25, of Ridge, was the only person in the pickup truck and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Chandan Gaval, 38, of Middle Island was driving the Nissan and was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His parents Kamalnayan Gavai, 74, and Archana Gavai, 60, were also in the car and were pronounced dead at the scene. They had been visiting their son from their home in India.

Chandan Gaval's wife, Manisha Surwade, 32, suffered life-threatening burns and head injuries in the accident, and their 11-month-old boy suffered non-life threatening injuries, police say. Surwade was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, and her son was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment.

The India Society at Stony Brook created a donation page to raise funds to help the family with funeral and other expenses. More than 400 people have already donated to the cause as of Wednesday afternoon. Donate here.

Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.

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