John Morici, of Nesconset, ID'd as driver who died after car went down embankment and caught fire in Nissequogue
Suffolk County police said they were investigating why the car caught fire. Credit: James Carbone
Police have identified a Nesconset man as the driver who died after his car left a driveway in Nissequogue and caught fire on Friday.
John Morici, 61, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant with the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, Suffolk County police said.
About 3:40 p.m., Morici was driving a 2002 Hyundai XG 350 on a driveway at a Pheasant Run home when he "left the pavement and drove off the driveway down a rear-yard embankment," Suffolk police said in a news release. The car caught fire after it came to a stop.
After exiting the vehicle, Morici collapsed, police said.
"Detectives are investigating if the undercarriage struck an object, which caused the vehicle to go on fire," the release said. The car was impounded for further investigation.
The department asked anyone with information regarding the crash to call detectives with the Fourth Squad located in Smithtown at 631-854-8452.
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.
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