121 MPH Southern State Crash Killed West Babylon Man; Driver Pleads Guilty: DA

NORTH BABYLON, NY — A Lindenhurst man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after prosecutors said he was driving about 121 mph and weaving through traffic before a 2024 Southern State Parkway crash that killed a West Babylon man and injured four others.

Felix Pantaleon, 24, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree manslaughter and other charges in connection with the Sept. 22, 2024 crash that killed Reynaldo Collado, 49, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to court documents and Pantaleon's admissions during his guilty plea, Pantaleon was driving a 2014 Honda Civic westbound on the Southern State Parkway in North Babylon at about 10:30 p.m.

Data recovered from the vehicle showed Pantaleon was traveling about 121 mph, prosecutors said.

Pantaleon cut off other vehicles and weaved between lanes before crashing into the rear of a 2009 Honda CR-V driven by Collado, according to prosecutors.

The impact sent both vehicles off the roadway. Collado's CR-V crashed into woods along the right shoulder, while Pantaleon's Civic struck the median barrier before also careening into the woods, prosecutors said.

Collado was pronounced dead at the scene.

One passenger in Collado's vehicle suffered serious injuries, including fractures to the vertebrae and pelvis, and required treatment at a rehabilitation facility, prosecutors said. Three other occupants of the CR-V suffered injuries that required treatment at local hospitals.

Before the crash, Pantaleon used his cellphone to record himself operating the Civic in what prosecutors described as a dangerous manner, according to the DA's office.

Pantaleon pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski to one count of second-degree manslaughter, a felony; one count of second-degree assault, a felony; three counts of third-degree assault, misdemeanors; and reckless driving.

He is scheduled to return to court Oct. 23 and is expected to be sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, according to prosecutors.

Pantaleon is represented by attorney Vincent Bianco, who was not immediately available to comment.

“This defendant’s egregious actions killed another innocent driver,” Tierney said. “Vehicles become lethal weapons in the hands of those who treat them like toys.”