Man falls from ninth-floor balcony at Hyatt Regency Long Island, police say

A New Jersey man was hospitalized in critical condition Monday after police said he fell from the ninth floor of a hotel balcony in Hauppauge, where he was staying while in town for a wedding.

Suffolk County police said Alexander Keating, 24, of South Amboy, was on the ninth-floor balcony at the Hyatt Regency Long Island at 1717 Motor Pkwy. when he fell over the railing around 12:45 a.m. Monday. He was transported by Central Islip-Hauppauge Volunteer Ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital, where police said he remained in critical condition.

Police said that Keating was in town for a wedding, adding that it was unclear if anyone else was in the room when he fell. Fourth Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances and could not provide additional details.

Steve Carter, acting general manager at the Hyatt Regency Long Island said: “The matter is still under investigation and as such we’re not able to comment at this time.”

Also Monday, police said a Commack man was critically injured after he fell off a stone retaining wall while painting a home in Nissequogue.

The victim, Rosin Santos, 54, was painting at the Spring Hollow Road home when he slipped off the wall and fell 20 feet to the ground at 12:37 p.m., police said.

Santos was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital by the Nissequogue Fire Department Ambulance Company to Stony Brook University Hospital. Fourth Squad detectives and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were investigating.

Police asked anyone with information to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

With Keldy Ortiz

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”