Groom was behind wheel in fatal crash, police say

An offduty New York City police officer who was killed late Sunday night in a one-car crash on Oliverea Road just hours after his wedding had been behind the wheel of the 2018 Maserati at the time, state police said.

Michael Colangelo, 31, of Huntington Station, had initially been identified as the front seat passenger of the car at the time of the crash, state police said Wednesday. Police said the front passenger was actually John Martinez, 39, of Hauppauge, another police officer who was also killed in the crash.

Initially following the crash, Martinez was incorrectly identified as the driver. State police said evidence from the investigation and autopsy results showed Colangelo was driving at the time.

The initial information indicating Martinez was the driver was partially based on reports by witnesses who saw him behind the wheel as the car left the resort where Colangelo had been married earlier in the day, police said. Police said the two men switched positions at some point during the trip.

A preliminary analysis shows the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway and struck a tree, and that neither Colangelo nor Martinez were wearing seat belts, police said. Police said the investigation is continuing pending accident reconstruction and toxicology results.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. A third person in the car, who was not identified but who police say was not the bride, suffered non-lifethreatening injuries and was taken to Albany Medical Center.

Authorities say the crash happened near the resort where Colangelo’s wedding had taken place.

The two officers previously had worked together in the NYPD Special Operations Division. Martinez was most recently assigned to the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn.

Colangelo was part of the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit canine team.