Felix Pantaleon sentenced to 4-12 years in prison in Southern State Parkway crash that killed Reynaldo Collado
New York State Police troopers at the scene of the Sept. 22, 2024, crash that killed 49-year-old Reynaldo Collado, of West Babylon. Credit: Paul Mazza
A Lindenhurst man was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to manslaughter and reckless driving charges in the killing of a West Babylon man on the Southern State Parkway in 2024. Suffolk prosecutors said.
Felix Pantaleon, 24, admitted driving his 2014 Honda Civic up to 121 mph while filming himself on Sept. 22, 2024, on the Southern State Parkway, prosecutors said. He cut off other drivers and weaved between lanes before he crashed into the back of a 2009 Honda CR-V, killing the driver, Reynaldo Collado, 49, and injuring four others in the SUV, prosecutors said. Collado was declared dead at the scene in North Babylon.
The crash caused both vehicles to crash into the woods off the parkway. The event data recorder in Pantaleon’s Civic showed the top speed, and prosecutors said he recorded himself driving on his phone shortly before the crash.
"Driving at 121 mph is not a mistake. It is a deliberate choice," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement. "This defendant made that choice, which resulted in the tragic death of 49-year-old Reynaldo Collado and injuries to four others. Today, he is being held accountable for that deadly decision."
Pantaleon pleaded guilty last month to second-degree manslaughter, felony and misdemeanor assault, and misdemeanor reckless driving. He was sentenced on Friday by Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski, who also revoked Pantaleon’s driver’s license.
Pantaleon’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday afternoon.
More coverage: Every 7 minutes on average a traffic crash causing death, injury or significant property damage happens on Long Island. A Newsday investigation found that traffic crashes killed more than 2,100 people between 2014 and 2023 and seriously injured more than 16,000 people. To search for fatal crashes in your area, click here.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 5: Top football teams in action and Nassau soccer playoff picks Gregg Sarra sounds off on Wantagh vs. Bethpage and Ward Melville vs Sachem North, plus Michaeil Sicoli has his Nassau soccer picks, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 5: Top football teams in action and Nassau soccer playoff picks Gregg Sarra sounds off on Wantagh vs. Bethpage and Ward Melville vs Sachem North, plus Michaeil Sicoli has his Nassau soccer picks, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
