Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced the indictment of Felix Pantaleon, a 22-year-old from Lindenhurst, on charges including Manslaughter in the Second Degree. The charges stem from an incident where Pantaleon allegedly drove at high speeds and erratically, leading to a crash that killed 49-year-old Reynaldo Collado and injured four others.
"We deserve safe roadways," stated District Attorney Tierney. "My office will seek to hold this defendant accountable for his alleged deadly choices and the death of Mr. Collado."
The investigation revealed that on September 22, 2024, around 10:30 p.m., Pantaleon was driving a 2014 Honda Civic westbound on the Southern State Parkway in North Babylon at approximately 121 miles per hour. He was reportedly cutting off other vehicles and weaving between lanes while recording himself with his cellphone. This behavior allegedly led to a collision with a 2009 Honda CRV.
The impact caused both vehicles to veer off the roadway, with the CRV crashing into nearby woods and resulting in Collado's death at the scene. One passenger in the CRV suffered serious injuries, including fractured vertebrae and pelvis, requiring ongoing treatment at a rehabilitation facility. Three other occupants sustained various injuries needing hospital care.
Pantaleon was arraigned on January 7, 2025, before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. The charges against him include one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a Class C felony), one count of Assault in the Second Degree (a Class D felony), three counts of Assault in the Third Degree (Class A misdemeanors), Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (a Class A misdemeanor), Reckless Driving (an Unclassified misdemeanor), as well as traffic infractions for Speeding, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Use of Portable Electronic Devices.