Driver dies as car splits in half in crash on Northern State in Smithtown

A driver was killed Monday night when their car split in two and they were ejected from the vehicle in a crash on the Northern State Parkway in Smithtown, state police said.

Troopers responded about 8:30 p.m. to the one-car wreck on the westbound side of the parkway near the New Highway overpass at exit 46, authorities said.

Police said the driver was thrown from a 2010 Volkswagen EOS, which had split in half. The driver was the vehicle’s only occupant.

Investigators determined erratic operation and unsafe speed contributed to the cause of the crash, police said. The victim’s name was not immediately released pending family notification.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the state police’s Troop L public information office at 631.756.3324.

_{Top: New York State Police logo on a state police officer’s car (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)}