By JOSEPH KELLARD
John Ansalone, 30, of Long Beach, was driving his 2004 Honda motorcycle north on Austin Boulevard when he crashed into a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, driven by Andrew Pujol of Island Park and headed south, at about 5:30 p.m., according to police.
Detective Dennis Barry of the 4th Precinct said that Pujol was making a left turn onto Baker Court in Island Park when Ansalone collided with him. The SUV turned onto its side, the motorcycle split in two ‹ debris from which struck a 2000 Mercedes ‹ and Ansalone was thrown from his bike.
"It's impossible to say if the SUV finally crossed in the motorcycle's path," Barry said, "but Ansalone wound up further north of the accident scene. I don't know if he actually went over the SUV or cleared the side of it. ... The motorcycle had the right of way, but the motorcycle was speeding, too."
Barry noted that there was "some indication that individual on the motorcycle had popped a wheelie on the bridge, and when you do that you're not going to see the headlights coming at you and you think it's clear, and the next thing you know..."
Asked about the motorcycle¹s estimated speed on impact, Barry said, "The reconstruction of the motorcycle has not been conducted yet, but there was some significant impact." Barry said there was a second motorcyclist at the scene, but he wasn't involved in the accident.
Ansalone was transported to South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, where he was pronounced dead at 6:23 p.m. Pujol and his girlfriend, the passenger in his SUV, were also taken to South Nassau, and treated for head and neck pain. The driver of the Mercedes was not injured.
No charges were filed or summonses issued, and police found no indication that either motorist was under the influence of alcohol, Barry said. He added that Ansalone was operating his motorcycle with a suspended and out-of-class license.
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
