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Reckless driving

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'Wannabe Racecar Driver' Indicted For Stunt Crash Injuring 19-Year-Old In Patchogue 'Wannabe Racecar Driver' Indicted For Stunt Crash Injuring 19-Year-Old In Patchogue
'Wannabe Racecar Driver' Indicted For Stunt Crash Injuring 19-Year-Old In Patchogue A man accused of injuring a spectator during an illegal street takeover on Long Island was indicted on multiple charges. Matthew Mitchell, age 20, of Brooklyn, was charged with assault and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Oct. 31. Prosecutors said Mitchell was with a large group of cars that gathered at Patchogue’s Gateway Plaza on Sunrise Highway in the early hours of Sunday, Oct. 6. Earlier Report: Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker Several of the vehicles were seen performing “doughnuts,” drifting, a…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Teen Accused Of Impaired Driving After LIE Crash In Suffolk Causes Oil Tanker To Overturn Teen Accused Of Impaired Driving After LIE Crash In Suffolk Causes Oil Tanker To Overturn
Teen Accused Of Impaired Driving After LIE Crash In Suffolk Causes Oil Tanker To Overturn A teenager has been accused of driving while impairing after a crash on the Long Island Expressway caused an oil tanker to overturn. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 30, at approximately 1:20 p.m. in Manorville. Austin Richuitti, a 19-year-old from Bellport, was driving a 2011 Cadillac at a high rate of speed westbound on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 69 when he collided with the rear of a 2010 International oil truck, according to Suffolk County Police.  The impact caused the truck to overturn into a wooded area. Police say officers attempted to initiate a tra…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Smithtown Dealer's Fentanyl Killed 17-Year-Old Girl, DA Says Smithtown Dealer's Fentanyl Killed 17-Year-Old Girl, DA Says
Smithtown Dealer's Fentanyl Killed 17-Year-Old Girl, DA Says An admitted drug dealer was formally charged in connection with the overdose death of a 17-year-old Long Island girl. Daquan Booker, age 34, of Smithtown, was arraigned on multiple drug charges in Nassau County Court on Tuesday, Oct. 15, following the death of Garden City High School senior Grace Wrightington. Prosecutors said Booker met with the teen on at least two occasions in July 2023 and sold her purported oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. The synthetic opioid – more than 100 times stronger than morphine – has contributed to a growing number of overdose deaths across the country in…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
20-Year-Old Injures Woman In Street Takeover In Patchogue, Police Say 20-Year-Old Injures Woman In Street Takeover In Patchogue, Police Say
20-Year-Old Injures Woman In Street Takeover In Patchogue, Police Say A week after a woman was injured in a so-called street takeover on Long Island, police arrested a suspect. The incident happened in Patchogue, at the Gateway Plaza on Sunrise Highway, at around 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. Suffolk County Police said a 19-year-old Holbrook woman was watching a care takeover when she was struck by an Infiniti sedan. She was taken by private vehicle to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore with serious injuries. Earlier Report: Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker On Tuesday morning, Oct. 1…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Wanted Driver Drags, Injures Deputy Following Traffic Stop In Bohemia, Police Say Wanted Driver Drags, Injures Deputy Following Traffic Stop In Bohemia, Police Say
Wanted Driver Drags, Injures Deputy Following Traffic Stop In Bohemia, Police Say A Long Island man wanted by police tried fleeing a traffic stop, injuring a sheriff’s deputy in the process, authorities said. The incident happened in Bohemia on Lincoln Avenue, at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. Suffolk County Sheriff’s officials said the deputy stopped 37-year-old Christopher Brown, of Holbrook, and informed him he was wanted on an arrest warrant out of Amityville. The warrant stemmed from charges of driving without a license and displaying illegal plates. Brown then put the vehicle in drive and attempted to flee, dragging the deputy alongside his car and injuring…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker
Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker Leaders on Long Island are fed up with so-called street takeovers they say are endangering people’s lives. The incidents – in which groups of drivers descend upon a street to either race or do tricks – are now the target of legislation being proposed by state lawmakers that would levy stiffer penalties for violators. If approved, the bill would give police and prosecutors enhanced tools to help crack down on reckless drivers and allow for the seizure and forfeiture of their vehicles, Republican State Sen. Anthony Palumbo said at a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 9. Palumbo, whose 1st Dist…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
26-Year-Old In Dodge Charger Nabbed For Reckless Driving After Doing Donuts In Shirley; Police 26-Year-Old In Dodge Charger Nabbed For Reckless Driving After Doing Donuts In Shirley; Police
26-Year-Old In Dodge Charger Nabbed For Reckless Driving After Doing Donuts In Shirley; Police A Hudson Valley man has been accused of driving recklessly on Long Island. Suffolk County Police say they observed a purple 2023 Dodge Charger doing donuts in the hamlet of Shirley at around 1:40 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at the intersection of Montauk Highway and William Floyd Parkway. The vehicle stalled and the man left the vehicle and fled on foot. Following an investigation, officers determined the vehicle was a rental. Putnam County resident Anthony Bartoszewicz, age 26, of Mahopac, was located at 1491 William Floyd Parkway, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday,…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Drunk Driver Who Caused 25-Year-Old's Death In Head-On Huntington Crash Gets Prison Drunk Driver Who Caused 25-Year-Old's Death In Head-On Huntington Crash Gets Prison
Drunk Driver Who Caused 25-Year-Old's Death In Head-On Huntington Crash Gets Prison A Long Island man who admitted to causing a high-speed, drunk driving crash that killed his 25-year-old passenger will spend years in prison. Leo Flores-Gracias, age 26, of Huntington Station, was sentenced to four to 12 years behind bars in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Sept. 30. It followed his guilty plea to aggravated vehicular homicide and related charges in the death of Marlon Nunez-Cuellar. Earlier Report: 'Should Be Warning': Driver Admits Causing Long Island DWI Crash That Killed 25-Year-Old According to prosecutors, it was around 8 p.m. on July 4, 2023, when Flores-Grac…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Suspect Nabbed After Fleeing From Stop On Southern State Parkway: Police Suspect Nabbed After Fleeing From Stop On Southern State Parkway: Police
Suspect Nabbed After Fleeing From Stop On Southern State Parkway: Police A suspect was apprehended after allegedly fleeing from a stop on the Southern State Parkway. The incident began at around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 when New York State Police say a tan Toyota Sienna was observed with an improper license plate on the eastbound side near Exit 2 in Wantagh. The driver of the car, Hillary Okeke, age 46, of the Bronx, initially pulled over but subsequently refused to cooperate and fled the scene, according to New York State Police. The trooper pursued Okeke who continued northbound onto Route 135 where the suspect’s car sideswiped another vehicle befor…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Repeat Drunk Driver Who Killed Man Outside Long Island Diner Gets Years In Prison Repeat Drunk Driver Who Killed Man Outside Long Island Diner Gets Years In Prison
Repeat Drunk Driver Who Killed Man Outside Long Island Diner Gets Years In Prison A repeat drunk driver will spend years behind bars for hitting and killing a husband and father outside a Long Island restaurant. Willem Specht, age 63, of Wantagh, was sentenced to between seven and 15 years in prison in Nassau County Court on Wednesday, Sept. 25. It followed his guilty plea to aggravated vehicular homicide and related charges in the death of Joseph Devito. Earlier Report: Repeat Drunk Driver Admits Hitting, Killing Man Outside Woodbury Restaurant Prosecutors said Specht was “highly intoxicated” when he quickly reversed his car from a parking spot, striking the 61…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Mother’s Intestines, Son’s Spleen Removed After Hit-Run Crash Caused By Long Island Man: DA Mother’s Intestines, Son’s Spleen Removed After Hit-Run Crash Caused By Long Island Man: DA
Mother’s Intestines, Son’s Spleen Removed After Hit-Run Crash Caused By Long Island Man: DA An accused hit-and-run driver who seriously injured a mother and her teenage son on Long Island was formally charged. Jamal Graham, age 30, of Central Islip, was indicted on assault and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Monday, July 8, in connection with the May 2023 crash. Prosecutors said Graham was speeding in an Infiniti sedan on Hale Street in Brentwood when he ran a stop sign at Lincoln Avenue and crashed into a Nissan SUV at around 11:30 p.m. on May 29, 2023. The driver of the Nissan, her teenage son, and her son’s friend, all suffered injuries in the crash. The woman and h…

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by Michael Mashburn
Traffic
Fourth Of July Crackdown: Extra DUI Patrols To Monitor NY Roads Over Holiday Weekend Fourth Of July Crackdown: Extra DUI Patrols To Monitor NY Roads Over Holiday Weekend
Fourth Of July Crackdown: Extra DUI Patrols To Monitor NY Roads Over Holiday Weekend Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that extra patrols will be on the lookout for drunk and drugged drivers over the Fourth of July weekend. Starting on Wednesday, July 3 at 6 p.m. and lasting through midnight on Sunday, July 7, New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will increase patrols on highways across the state. The extra patrols will conduct sobriety checkpoints and target reckless and aggressive driving in an effort to curb impaired drivers and target other traffic infractions, Hochul said. “State Police and local law enforcement agencies will once again be out on New Y…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
'Should Be Warning': Driver Admits Causing Long Island DWI Crash That Killed 25-Year-Old 'Should Be Warning': Driver Admits Causing Long Island DWI Crash That Killed 25-Year-Old
'Should Be Warning': Driver Admits Causing Long Island DWI Crash That Killed 25-Year-Old A Long Island man formally confessed to causing a high-speed, drunk driving crash on the Fourth of July that killed his 25-year-old passenger. Leo Flores-Gracias, age 26, of Huntington Station, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, June 6, in the death of Marlon Nunez-Cuellar. According to prosecutors, it was around 8 p.m. on July 4, 2023, when Flores-Gracias and three others left a party in Huntington where they had been drinking alcohol. Earlier Report: Alleged Drunk Driver Charged With Manslaughter In Crash Killin…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Fatal Long Island Crash: 21-Year-Old Drove High, T-Boned Car, Fled In Police Car, DA Alleges Fatal Long Island Crash: 21-Year-Old Drove High, T-Boned Car, Fled In Police Car, DA Alleges
Fatal Long Island Crash: 21-Year-Old Drove High, T-Boned Car, Fled In Police Car, DA Alleges A young woman was indicted on charges including manslaughter for allegedly running a red light and crashing into a car, fatally wounding one person before fleeing the scene in a police cruiser. Rachel Lodice, age 21 of Jericho, faced her arraignment on Wednesday, June 4 for the Massapequa crash, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Original Report - Jericho Woman Driving Drunk Flees Fatal Massapequa Crash In Stolen Cruiser: Police On the evening of Tuesday, April 23, Lodice began driving her 2023 Kia Rio, heading south on Hicksville Road at a high rate of speed and under…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Drunk 21-Year-Old Was Going 94 MPH When He Struck, 'Mauled' Long Island Man, DA Says Drunk 21-Year-Old Was Going 94 MPH When He Struck, 'Mauled' Long Island Man, DA Says
Drunk 21-Year-Old Was Going 94 MPH When He Struck, 'Mauled' Long Island Man, DA Says A 21-year-old man has been formally charged for an alleged high-speed, drunk-driving crash that seriously injured another motorist in a Long Island neighborhood. Ryan Wilson, of West Islip, was indicted on vehicular assault and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, May 31, stemming from a crash that occurred Saturday, March 9, in West Islip. Prosecutors said Wilson was intoxicated when his Tesla Model Y came speeding down West Islip Road at around 8:45 p.m. and slammed into another vehicle that was backing out of a driveway. Just moments before impact, he was driving upwards o…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Long Island Man Causes 3 Crashes, Police Say Long Island Man Causes 3 Crashes, Police Say
Long Island Man Causes 3 Crashes, Police Say A Long Island man was nabbed for reckless driving after allegedly causing three crashes as he fled from police. The incident occurred in Riverhead around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, at Osborn Avenue and Lincoln Street. According to Riverhead Police, officers responded to a report of a 2006 Acura sedan driving at a high rate of speed, putting other drivers at risk. Christian Alexander Hernandez Saenz, age 24, of Riverhead, first collided with a white 2015 Toyota Rav-4 traveling southbound on Osborn Avenue, causing extensive damage to both vehicles, said police. After the i…

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by Kathy Reakes