Speed, Alcohol, and Devastation: Inside the Tragic Wantagh Parkway Wreck

December 15, 2025 Early Saturday morning on Long Island's Southern State Parkway, the life of a passenger was violently cut short—all allegedly because a driver made the catastrophic decision to get behind the wheel while drunk and traveling at a "high rate of speed."

This is more than a police report; it's a stark reminder that poor choices on the road have lethal consequences.

The Scene of the Tragedy

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on December 14, New York State Police (Troop L) rushed to the westbound lanes of the Southern State Parkway near Exit 13 (Central Avenue) in Wantagh.

What troopers found was a scene of devastation:

• A Hyundai Sonata smashed into a tree on the right shoulder.

• The driver, 35-year-old Deodat J. Ramotar of Jamaica, Queens, was miraculously uninjured, as was the front-seat passenger.

• However, the consequences for the three rear-seat passengers were dire. Two were rushed to Jamaica Hospital, but the third passenger succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

The Charges: A Legal Avalanche

The State Police investigation moved quickly, revealing the two critical factors that led to the fatal wreck: speed and alleged intoxication. Investigators determined that Ramotar lost control of the vehicle while allegedly driving impaired.

Ramotar now faces a severe list of felony and misdemeanor charges that reflect the horrific outcome of his alleged actions:

• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

• Vehicular Manslaughter (2 counts)

• Assault in the Third Degree (2 counts)

• Assault in the Second Degree – Recklessly Causing Serious Physical Injury

• Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree

He was immediately processed and transported to the Nassau County Detention Center.

A Plea From the Police

The New York State Police Department issued a powerful, yet familiar, warning following the arrest—a message that sadly, never seems to reach everyone in time:

"The New York State Police urge all motorists to drive sober, travel at a safe speed, and prioritize safety every time they operate a motor vehicle."

This fatal crash wasn't an accident; it was a criminal act of negligence that extinguished a life. Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased and the passengers fighting for recovery.

The message is blunt: Drinking and driving is a choice. Vehicular homicide is the consequence.