Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Philip Mastropolo, a 44-year-old husband and father of two from Nassau County, was killed in April 2005 when driver Ganesh Shenoy allegedly ran a red light at twice the speed limit and slammed into his Cadillac at the intersection of Levittown Parkway and Old Country Road in Hicksville, Long Island. Mastropolo was on his way to work when the fatal T-bone collision occurred. According to ABC7 New York, the crash was so catastrophic that Mastropolo’s car was launched 65 feet before slamming into the front of a freightliner box truck. He did not survive.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly described the sheer force of the impact at a press conference following Shenoy’s extradition. “The impact of the crash was so violent that it launched Philip’s car 65 feet into the front of a freightliner box truck,” Donnelly said, according to ABC7 New York. Prosecutors say Shenoy was traveling at twice the posted speed limit when he blew through the red light and struck Mastropolo’s vehicle in the T-bone collision — one of the most dangerous crash configurations on any road, as it exposes the occupant on the struck side to the full force of the impact with minimal structural protection.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Shenoy did not come clean to investigators. Instead, he lied to police, falsely claiming that he had a green light at the time of the collision, per the ABC7 New York report. Just 14 days after killing Mastropolo, Shenoy boarded a flight to India, where he would remain for the next two decades. “He wanted a quick getaway and in the days that followed, it became clear why,” DA Donnelly said.
For 18 years, Shenoy actively fought extradition to the United States from India, successfully evading accountability for the crash that robbed the Mastropolo family of a husband and father. That changed on September 25, 2025, when Shenoy was finally returned to Nassau County in what prosecutors confirmed was the first extradition from India to the United States since 2017 — a rare legal milestone that underscores how difficult and protracted the case had become. “We got him, and he’s not getting away from us again,” DA Donnelly declared.
The news of Shenoy’s extradition brought a bittersweet moment of relief for the Mastropolo family, who have spent 20 years without closure. “His family deserved more time with the man they loved, instead they have lived in pain and with the pain of his loss for the last 20 years,” Donnelly said, echoing the family’s sentiments. When told that Shenoy was finally in custody, the family’s reaction was one of disbelief mixed with long-awaited hope. “The first thing the family said was, ‘We never thought this day would come,’” Donnelly told reporters.
Shenoy has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in connection with Mastropolo’s death. If convicted on that charge, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Location & Road Context
The deadly 2005 crash took place at the intersection of Levittown Parkway and Old Country Road in Hicksville, a busy crossroads in the heart of Nassau County that sees substantial daily traffic volume from commuters and commercial vehicles alike. The presence of a freightliner box truck at the scene speaks to the commercial nature of the corridor. Hicksville is a densely populated hamlet in the Town of Oyster Bay, and Old Country Road is one of the primary east-west arterials running through central Nassau County, connecting numerous communities and commercial zones. Long Island Traffic’s local incident database has recorded 395 accidents in Nassau County to date, reflecting the ongoing road safety challenges across the county.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Following the 2005 crash, investigators were initially misled by Shenoy, who falsely told police he had the right of way at the light. Within two weeks, he had fled the country, leaving Nassau County prosecutors with a fugitive case that would span two decades. The extradition process from India proved extraordinarily difficult — Shenoy fought it for 18 years — and his return on September 25, 2025 represents the first successful extradition from India to the U.S. since 2017, according to ABC7 New York.
Shenoy was arraigned and has entered a plea of not guilty to second-degree manslaughter. The case is now proceeding in Nassau County court. DA Anne Donnelly’s office has been unambiguous about its intent to see the prosecution through. “We got him, and he’s not getting away from us again,” Donnelly stated at the press conference announcing his return. If convicted on the manslaughter charge, Shenoy faces up to 15 years in prison.
Broader Impact
The Shenoy extradition is a landmark moment not just for the Mastropolo family, but for the broader landscape of international fugitive accountability. The fact that this marks the first extradition from India to the United States since 2017 highlights how rarely these cases succeed — and how persistent Nassau County prosecutors had to be to bring it to fruition. For families of victims in hit-and-run or flight-from-justice cases on Long Island, this outcome may offer a measure of hope that geographic distance and time are not insurmountable barriers to justice. Residents with information on traffic incidents in Nassau County are encouraged to report them to local law enforcement promptly, as early evidence collection remains critical in cases where suspects may attempt to flee.