The incident occurred around 11:59 p.m. on Wilson Boulevard, just south of St. Johns Street. Authorities say Giovanni Guzman, 26, of Central Islip, was driving a 2008 Nissan northbound when he struck two pedestrians in the roadway.
The victims have been identified as Jacinto Santos, 55, and Mauro Zaldivar-Cruz, 38, both residents of Central Islip. Emergency responders transported both men to South Shore University Hospital, where Santos was pronounced dead. Zaldivar-Cruz remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Guzman was not injured in the incident. His vehicle was impounded for a safety inspection as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police have not yet announced any charges, and the circumstances leading up to the collision remain under investigation. It is not yet clear why the pedestrians were in the roadway at the time of the crash.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Suffolk County Police Third Squad at 631-854-8352.
The tragic loss has cast a shadow over the Central Islip community, as loved ones mourn Jacinto Santos and hope for the recovery of Mauro Zaldivar-Cruz.