NEWS

Yonkers mayor's cousin dies after crash in North Salem

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano

NORTH SALEM – A relative of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano died after a car crash on Titicus Road on Thursday morning that police believe may have started as a medical emergency, officials said.

Nicholas Spano, 42, of Poughkeepsie was traveling on Titicus about 9 a.m. when his vehicle veered into the oncoming lanes, traveled up an embankment and struck a stone wall before rolling back down, police said.

Spano was taken to Danbury (Conn.) Hospital, where he died.

State police Investigator Cornelius Merritt said an autopsy is scheduled for Friday to determine Spano's cause of death.

Officials believe the impact of the crash was not severe enough to kill him. Damage to the vehicle and the condition of Spano's body were not consistent with that of a fatal accident.

Spano, who is one of 14 children, was driving home after falling ill at work in South Salem, said older cousin and godfather, Nick Spano, the former state senator convicted of federal tax evasion.

"He was a 42-year-old young strong guy and the entire family is devastated," the elder Spano said. "It was obviously some medical condition that was undetected."

Staff writer Ernie Garcia contributed to this report.