East Meadow man dies in car crash

Anthony Sylvia, 28 was a passenger to an intoxicated driver, police say

Posted

An East Meadow man died early Tuesday morning after a car he was traveling in as a passenger crossed over the median on Sunrise Highway and crashed head-on with a pick-up truck, according to police.

Nassau County police said Anthony Sylvia, 28, was in a 2005 Nissan Maxima driven by Michael Bantel, 27, of Massapequa, heading eastbound on the highway around 4:45 a.m. in Massapequa.

Bantel was intoxicated at the time, police say.

The car allegedly crossed the median that separates the east- and westbound lanes, and collided with a 2014 Ford F-150XLT truck driven by a 37-year-old female whose name police did not release.

Sylvia was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, police say.

The 37-year-old female suffered lacerations and contusions on her head, and knee and back pain, and was transported to a local hospital.

Bantel was also admitted into a nearby hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

Bantel is charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, third-degree assault, and driving while intoxicated.

He is scheduled to be arraigned while in the hospital on Wednesday.