Melville, NY - August 13th, 2014 - Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a man in Melville early this morning.
A man was driving a Jeep Liberty westbound on the Long Island Expressway near exit 49 when he lost control of the vehicle at approximately 5 a.m. The Jeep was struck from behind by a tractor trailer, then struck the cement center divider and became fully engulfed in flames.
The driver of the Liberty was pronounced dead at the scene. The man’s name is being withheld pending positive identification by the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.
Joseph Bonilla Jr., 52, of Central Islip, the driver of the tractor trailer, suffered minor injuries. The tractor trailer was carrying waste oil and owned by JVB Transport.
Following a preliminary investigation, the crash appears to be weather-related. The investigation is continuing and detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.
