While home on Thanksgiving break from college, 21-year-old Jason Shein of Levittown went out to dinner with friends late Saturday night. Early Sunday morning he was killed after his 1998 Chrysler convertible was hit head on.

According to the Homicide Squad, the accident occurred at 12:25 a.m. on Nov. 30 while Shein was driving with his three friends eastbound on Conklin Street in Farmingdale. Detectives stated that a 2000 Ford Explorer traveling eastbound on Conklin Street attempted to pass an uninvolved vehicle by crossing over the double yellow traffic control lines into the westbound lanes and collided head on with Shein's vehicle.

Shein was pronounced dead at the scene, stated Det. Ferucci of the Homicide Squad. Two of his 21-year-old male passengers were treated and released from Nassau County Medical Center. The third passenger, a male, 21 was also transported to Nassau County Medical Center and is listed in serious condition, police reported.

The driver of the Ford Explorer was Persi Esquivel, 46, of Valley Stream.

According to Det. Lt. John Azzata, commanding officer of the Homicide Squad, a Farmingdale volunteer firefighter and Police Officer Mangione extricated Esquivel and placed him on a front lawn.

"At that time they noticed various observations indicating that he was intoxicated," Azzata explained.

Esquivel was arrested and charged with Manslaughter 2nd Degree, Vehicular Manslaughter 1st Degree, Assault 2nd Degree, Vehicular Assault 1st Degree, Felony DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operator 1st Degree, two counts of Assault 3rd Degree, Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, Reckless Operation, Unlicensed Operator and Failure to keep right.

According to police, Esquivel was previously arrested for a DWI in 2006 and driving with a suspended license.

The defendant is being treated at Nassau County Medical Center for his injuries and was arraigned Monday, Dec. 1. The vehicles were impounded from the accident scene for safety tests.

At a Dec. 1 press conference, Police Commissioner Lawrence W. Mulvey called Shein's death a "most tragic occurrence."

He also noted that extra personnel were assigned to DWI enforcement for the holidays, resulting in the 93 DWI arrests over the weekend.

Shein, a graduate of Division Avenue High School, was a volunteer emergency medical technician in Miami and student at the University of Miami.

Jennifer Pierre-Louis, the music chairperson at DAHS, knew Shein well when he was in the marching band.

"Jason was very loyal and dedicated to his friends and school," she said. "He was a person of character and earned the respect and admiration of all those whose lives he touched."

He is survived by his parents Betsy and Albert Shein, and two sisters, Deena Shein, 32, and Jami Anspach, 30, all of Levittown.