Man Killed in Multi-Car Accident on LIE

A Selden man was killed early Saturday morning after he left his vehicle to check for damage from a minor collision and was struck by a third vehicle on the Long Island Expressway in Melville.

Suffolk County Police gave this account of the crash:

Madhava Reddy was driving a 2018 Mercedes Benz in the middle lane of the eastbound Long Island Expressway near exit 49 when he was struck from behind by a 2016 Nissan driven by Eric Preto. His wife Gabriella Preto and their 2-year-old son were also in the vehicle.

Preto left his vehicle to check the damage on his car and to speak to Reddy. As Preto was walking back to his vehicle, he was struck by a 2015 Subaru driven by Jennifer Massaro. A 2017 Nissan driven by Stephen Raia then struck Preto’s car.

Preto, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Reddy, 58, of Dix Hills; Massaro, 38, of Smithtown; and Gabriella Preto, 29, of Selden, and her child were all taken to local hospitals for evaluation. Stephen Raia, 24, of Commack was evaluated at the scene.

All four vehicles were impounded for a safety check.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.

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