SHANDANKEN, Ulster County (WABC) --
Investigators have determined that it was the groom who was behind the wheel in a crash that killed two off-duty NYPD officers on the night one of them had gotten married.The wreck happened around 11:20 p.m. Sunday on Oliveria Road in the Ulster County town of Shandaken, about a mile away from the reception site.
New York State Police say the driver of the 2018 Maserati at the time of the crash was Michael Colangelo, 31, of Huntington Station. The front passenger was John Martinez, 39, of Hauppauge.
Colangelo was married for just hours to his bride Katherine Berger, now a widow.
The initial information indicating Martinez was the driver was partially based off witnesses who observed Martinez behind the wheel as the vehicle left the resort, police said.
Further investigation revealed that Martinez and Colangelo switched positions at some point during the trip.
Police say their preliminary analysis indicates the vehicle was speeding when it left the roadway, and neither the driver or front seat passenger were wearing seat belts.
Photos released by state police showed the vehicle was badly damaged.
Wakes for both men will be held on Long Island Thursday. Their funerals will be on Friday. ============================
SHANDANKEN, Ulster County (WABC) --
Two off-duty NYPD officers were killed in a one-car crash in Ulster County Sunday night, on the night of one of officer Colangelo's wedding.
It happened around 11:23 p.m. on Oliveria Road in the town of Shandaken, about a mile away from the reception site. It appears they had recently left the reception.
Police say that John M. Martinez was driving a 2018 Maserati when it suddenly left the roadway and hit a large tree.
That caused the vehicle to flip onto its roof.
Michael Colangelo, 31, of Huntington Station and Martinez, 39, of Hauppauge, were pronounced dead at the scene.
These people were coming from a reception at the Full Moon Resort. Obviously, there was a lot of drinking; and then is late night and they are not very familiar with the area. They speed on this beautiful car, the 2018 Maserati, and then crash the car onto a tree. Two dead, one injured.
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21 May 2018
State Police investigate a fatal crash in the town of Shandaken
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Pierce V. Gallagher
Troop F Commander
Troop F Commander
PRESS RELEASE
On May 20, 2018, at approximately 11:23 p.m. State Police Kingston responded to a report of a one car fatal motor vehicle accident on Oliveria Road in the town of Shandaken. Investigation at the scene revealed that a 2018 Maserati, being operated by John M. Martinez, left the roadway and struck a large tree before overturning and coming to rest on it's roof. Michael Colangelo, age 31, from Huntington Station, N.Y. and John M. Martinez, age 39, from Hauppauge, N.Y. were pronounced deceased at the scene. A third occupant was transported to Albany Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. The State Police were assisted at the scene by the Town of Shandaken PD, Ulster County Sheriff's Office, NYC DEP, Big Indian FD, Pine Hill FD, Oliveria FD, Phonecia FD, and Shandaken EMS.
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Two off-duty New York City police officers, one who was a groom celebrating his wedding day, were killed Sunday night after their vehicle crashed into a tree in upstate New York, police said.
John M. Martinez, 39, and Michael Colangelo, 31, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in Shandaken, about 72 miles southwest of Albany. Colangelo, a K9 officer, got married to his wife Katherine and hosted their reception at Full Moon Resort, not far from the crash site, a state police spokesman told Fox News. Martinez was an officer at the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn.
Martinez was driving the 2018 Maserati just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday when the vehicle “left the roadway and struck a large tree,” New York state police said in a news release. The car overturned and ended up on its roof.
Michael Colangelo, 31, was an NYPD canine officer and got married on Sunday before the fatal car crash. (NYPD Special Ops)
A third passenger, who was not the bride but a family friend of the groom, was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The trio were leaving the reception when the crash occurred. Police said they have not released the cause of the crash.
Both officers were from Long Island.
Colangelo and his wife were planning a honeymoon in Costa Rica before his tragic death Sunday, according to the Honeyfund page. They had asked guests to contribute money to their honeymoon.
“We know it's not traditional but it would be a lot of fun, to have some items on our wedding list that will help us catch some sun! So if you'd like to give a gift to send us on our way, a donation to our honeymoon would really make our day!” the couple wrote on their page.
They added, “Then while we're relaxing on the beach, or by the pool so blue, we'll sit back and know that it is truly thanks to you!!”