A passenger in the BMW, 81-year-old Isidore Adelson, also was killed.
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“There is some road work in that area and there is, up on the bridge, there’s some steel plates on the road and it’s possible that the driver was alarmed by the change in surface”, Suffolk County Chief of Detectives Gerard Gigante told WCBS 880’s Sean Adams.
Officials are also examining if construction on the highway contributed to the vehicle wreck.
The driver’s 10-year-old son died later at a hospital, police said. The 29-year-old Martella was serving as communication director for Suffolk County executive Steve Bellone.
The accident reportedly was sparked when Carmelo Pinales lost control of his gray Subaru Outback which was going eastbound on the LIE when he careened across a grass center divider near exits 68 and 69 then went airborne before slamming into westbound traffic. Two others in the Subaru, including Patricia’s 3-year-old daughter, were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Carmelo Pinales’ older brother, Jose Miguel Perez, 27, pleaded Monday with reporters, asking them if they have “any contact who can help us with funeral expenses”.
Jose Miguel Perez talks about his family members who died yesterday in a auto crash on the LIE. (Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News) Carmelo Elchicoc Pinales. right, with girlfriend, Ivonne Luque.
He was also a former board member of Long Island Cares, Inc.
“It was tragic for the whole family”, Perez added.
“It is one of the great, great tragedies and there are no words for it”, Cuomo said. “When I spoke to his parents, literally there are no words”.
Five people, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed on Sunday when a auto driver lost control and his vehicle became airborne, striking two cars traveling in the opposite direction on the Long Island Expressway, police said. “I believe it’s in God’s hands.’ That is the best explanation”. Shelbi Thurau, his fiancee was injured but not critically.
One of those vehicles was driven by Martella, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cuomo, a Democrat, said Martella served in his administration for more than four years. “This was a really, really lovely, handsome young man”.
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The county executive said he had asked Martella to join his team because Bellone “admired his intelligence, his wisdom and love of community and people. He loved helping people”. Three others in the BMW, including Adelson’s wife, Helen, were hurt.
