Man Killed in Fiery Crash in Dix Hills

A North Babylon man was killed in a two-car crash on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills early Monday morning, police said. 

Police say Joseph Pritchard, 30, was behind the wheel of a 2008 Dodge pickup truck that was stopped for an unknown reason in the westbound right lane of the expressway, about 1000 feet east of exit 51, at 2:23 a.m. when it was struck from behind by a 2001 International box truck owned by Barakat Trucking. 

Both vehicles caught fire following the impact and Pritchard was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The driver of the box truck, Joseph Garcia, 34, of the Bronx, was transported by Dix Hills Fire Department Rescue to Huntington Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said. 

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks and the investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.