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Kenneth Salgado, 31, of Bethpage, was driving westbound near Exit 37 in Babylon when he blew past a DOT road closure set up for an unrelated incident at around 8 p.m. Saturday, Mach 8, New York State Police said.
Salgado, who was driving on only three tires, ignored barricades and sped through the closure, prompting a trooper to initiate a pursuit, police said.
At one point, Salgado came dangerously close to striking an investigator from the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, according to police. Despite multiple lawful attempts to get him to pull over, Salgado reportedly refused to comply.
When Salgado’s vehicle finally came to a stop, officers ordered him to exit. After some delay, he stepped out and was taken into custody.
Troopers suspected Salgado was intoxicated but he refused to take a breathalyzer test, police said.
He is charged with:
- Driving while intoxicated (misdemeanor)
- Reckless endangerment (felony)
- Resisting arrest (misdemeanor)
- Unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle (misdemeanor)
- Numerous vehicle and traffic law violations
“This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the dedication and courage demonstrated by the New York State Police, who work tirelessly to keep the public safe—often putting themselves at great risk to do so,” the agency said in a statement.
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