Teen Killed, 3 Seriously Hurt in Northern State Parkway Crash

PLAINVIEW, NY – A 19-year-old man was killed and three other people were seriously injured in a single-vehicle on the Northern State Parkway in Nassau County early Saturday, police said.

According to State Police, 17-year-old Franklin A. Cruz-Ortez was driving a 2003 Honda Pilot eastbound on the parkway at about 3:24 a.m. when he lost control while entering a curve in the roadway near Exit 36N in Plainview.

The minivan then left the roadway onto the right shoulder and struck the steel pole of a DOT Inform overhead sign, police said.

The rear driver’s side passenger, 19-year-old Darwin I. Velasquez-Acosta, of Brentwood, was partially ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cruz-Ortez, of Bay Shore, and two passengers were taken to Winthrop University Hospital where they are being treated for serious injuries. Police did not release the names of the passengers.

No criminal charges have been filed at this time.

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