2 NYPD cops, newlywed and friend, dead in crash
NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The New York State Police are investigating a deadly crash in Ulster County that killed two off-duty NYPD officers and injured a third man.
One of the officers, Michael Colangelo, 31, of Huntington Station, Long Island, had gotten married hours earlier. He was a 10-year veteran of the NYPD's ESU K-9 unit.
The other man, Detective John M. Martinez, 39, of Happaugue, Long Island, a 16-year veteran of the force, was assigned to Brooklyn's 84th Precinct.
The three men were in a rented 2018 Maserati driving along Oliverea Road in Shandaken at about 11:23 p.m. when the vehicle struck a large tree and flipped over. The luxury sports car landed on its roof.
Martinez and Colangelo died in the crash. The third occupant, a 28-year-old man, was taken to Albany Medical Center. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Police believe Martinez, who rented the car, was driving.
"As far as we can tell they were taking this car out for a ride," Maj. Pierce Gallagher said. "I feel comfortable saying that the speed was excessive." The speed limit on that road is 40 mph.
Gallagher said Martinez and Colangelo were apparently not wearing seat belts but the backseat passenger was. Autopsy and toxicology results were pending.
Martinez and Colangelo were about a mile from the site of the wedding reception when the crash occurred.
The Post reported that Martinez was the father of a 10-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy.