Melville Crash Victim Identified As Brentwood Man; Other Driver Arrested For DWI: Police

MELVILLE, NY — Suffolk County police have identified the driver who was critically injured in a two-vehicle crash in Melville last week as Nelson Gonzalez, 63, of Brentwood, police said.

Police said Gonzalez was driving a 2014 Toyota Tacoma when the crash occurred at about 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at the intersection of Pinelawn Road and the Express Drive South.

According to police, Gonzalez was traveling southbound on Pinelawn Road and attempted to make a left turn onto the Express Drive South at a green light when his vehicle was struck head-on by a 2025 Mazda CX-7 traveling northbound on Pinelawn Road, also with a green light.

Gonzalez was taken to Plainview Hospital and later transferred to North Shore Community Hospital in Manhasset, where he remains in critical condition, police said.

The driver of the Mazda, identified by police as John Ankelman, 59, of Farmingdale, was charged with driving while intoxicated, police said. He was held overnight at the Second Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Both vehicles were impounded, police said.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Second Squad detectives at 631-854-8252.