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Sunday, feb 16
Tag:
Alcohol
News
Fatal DWI Crash Leaves Passenger Dead As Long Beach Driver Flees: Police
A drunk driver crashed into a tree, killing his passenger, before fleeing the scene in Garden City, Nassau County police said. Christhian Velasquez-Geleano, 28, of Long Beach, was driving a 2007 Nissan westbound on Stewart Avenue at Nassau Boulevard when he lost control and slammed into a tree at 4:47 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, according to police. Instead of helping his injured passenger, Marco Antonio Zuniga, 27, Geleano allegedly ran from the crash. First responders found Zuniga suffering from severe trauma and rushed him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police tracke…
News
Drunk Driver Going 127 MPH Admits Causing Seaford Crash That Killed Half-Brother
A man formally confessed to causing a drunken, high-speed crash on a Long Island highway that killed his half-brother. Joshua Pena, 25, of Valley Stream, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and related charges in Nassau County Court on Thursday, Jan. 30, in the death of his Xavier Pena. Joshua Pena was racing down the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway at 127 miles per hour and more than twice the legal limit for alcohol when he careened into a guardrail and smashed into a tree near exit 1E shortly before 8 a.m. on Father’s Day 2022, prosecutors said. His passenger and brother, Xavier Pena, was pinn…
Police & Fire
Intoxicated Long Island Driver Had 2 Children In Vehicle During Routine Traffic Stop: Cops
A Long Island man was busted for alleged felony aggravated DWI with two children under the age of 16 in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop of a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Donald Durando, age 44, of Smithtown, Suffolk County, was charged by state police in Windham, Greene County, on Saturday, Dec. 28, NYSP Trooper Jennifer Alvarez said. While interviewing Durando, troopers smelled the strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. Alvarez said. Durando submitted to a field sobriety test, which he failed, and was placed under arrest without incident. Two children…
Business
Shoplifting Costs Retailers Billions: These Are Most Frequently Stolen Items
Shoplifting in the US is a costly epidemic, with retailers losing over $120 billion last year. The trend focuses on easily concealed, high-demand products at major retailers like Walmart and Target, posing a nationwide challenge for store owners and law enforcement. Electronics, health and beauty products, and food items are among the most commonly stolen goods, Capital One Shopping reports. Small gadgets such as headphones and phone chargers, alongside over-the-counter medications and cosmetics, are frequent targets. Alcohol, baby formula, and packaged meats are also popular …
News
Drunk Driver Was Going Twice Speed Limit Before Head-On Bethpage Crash Killing Man, DA Says
Authorities released new details in an alleged drunk driving crash that killed an 82-year-old Long Island man. The wreck happened in Bethpage, near the intersection of Round Swamp Road and Winding Road , at around 7:20 a.m. Friday, June 28. Nassau County Police said 64-year-old Cheryl Bergenstock, of Bethpage, was more than twice the legal limit for alcohol when her Subaru Forester crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla. Earlier Report: Fatal DWI: Woman Nabbed For Long Island Crash, Police Say The Corolla’s driver, 82-year-old Alan Goldsand, of Old Bethp…
News
Repeat Drunk Driver Admits Hitting, Killing Man Outside Woodbury Restaurant
More than a year after a husband and father was struck and killed by a repeat drunk driver outside a Long Island restaurant, his family is getting closure. Willem Specht, age 63, of Wantagh, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and related charges in Nassau County Court on Monday, Aug. 26, in the death of Joseph Devito. Prosecutors said Specht was “highly intoxicated” when he quickly reversed his car from a parking spot, striking the 61-year-old Devito outside the On Parade Diner in Woodbury at around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2023. Earlier Report: ID Released For Man Struck,…
Police & Fire
Drunk Driver Crashes U-Haul Into Car In Wilton, Police Say
A Long Island man driving a U-Haul truck was charged with alleged DUI in Fairfield County after he passed another vehicle and struck it. The incident occurred in the town of Wilton on Wednesday, July 31, on Danbury Road (Route 7). According to Lt. Anna Tornello of the Wilton Police, Steve Otterbeck, age 58, of Huntington Station, was traveling south on Ridgefield Road in a U-Haul truck when he passed another car and struck it. After stopping the truck, officers thought Otterbeck's actions "were not normal," and in Plainview were several alcohol containers, Tornello said. Tornel…
News
Salon Crash: Alleged Drunk Driver Who Killed Off-Duty Cop, 3 Others In NY Charged With Murder
An alleged drunk driver who crashed his SUV into a New York nail salon, killing four people, including a police officer, was charged with murder. Long Island resident Steven Schwally, age 64, of Dix Hills, was formally indicted on four counts of second-degree murder, plus 24 other felonies and nine misdemeanors, in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Aug. 1 District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Schwally had just left a liquor store and was intoxicated when he crashed his SUV into Hawaii Nail & Spa, located in Deer Park on Grand Boulevard, going nearly 80 miles per hour on Friday, June 28…
News
Two-Time DWI Driver Sentenced For Killing 'Beloved' Teacher On Long Island: DA
A Long Island man has been given a lengthy prison sentence for driving drunk and high, hitting and killing a 42-year-old father and teacher who was only blocks away from his home. Christopher Flores, age 29, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 9 to five to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter and more, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Over two years before, on March 19, 2022, Flores, who is from Long Beach, was speeding eastbound on Merrick Road on his 2020 BMW motorcycle at around 11:50 p.m. in Rockville Centre. As he approached the intersection of Forest …
Traffic
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…
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Driving Drunk After Crashing Into Police Cruiser On LIE In Dix Hills
A man has been accused of driving while intoxicated after he crashed his car into a marked police vehicle on the Long Island Expressway. The incident happened around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, June 29, in Dix Hills, on the westbound side near Exit 50. The cruiser was stopped and had been responding to another call, Suffolk County Police said. Jason Ligon, age 57, of Great Neck, was driving a 2020 Mercedes sedan when he crashed his vehicle into the rear of the cruiser, said police. The one officer in the police vehicle was transported to a local hosp…
News
Mug Shot Released From Justin Timberlake's Overnight Stay In Hamptons Jail For DWI Charge
As the word of Justin Timberlake's arrest on Long Island has quickly spread, a mug shot of the singer and actor has quietly been released by police in the Hamptons. Related: New Details Released After Justin Timberlake Nabbed For DWI In Hamptons Timberlake, who has been out promoting his new album "Everything I Thought It Was," spent the night in jail after being charged for allegedly driving drunk. Timberlake, age 43, of Franklin, Tennessee, was arrested shortly after leaving the posh American Hotel in Sag Harbor, around 12:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, after a night of drinking…
News
Man Accused Of Driving Drunk With Boy Inside Pickup Truck In East Meadow
A man has been accused of driving drunk with a boy inside his pickup truck on Long Island. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. Saturday, June 15, in East Meadow. Massachusetts resident Gregory Foutz, age 48, was observed operating a black 2023 Nissan Titan northbound on Merrick Avenue near the intersection of Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Officers conducted a vehicle and traffic law stop and observed Foutz with slurred speech, watery eyes, and an odor of alcohol emanating from his breath, resulting in positive results on the Standar…
Business
Trio Busted Selling Alcohol To Minors At Long Island Businesses, Police Say
Three employees were arrested after allegedly selling alcohol to minors at Long Island businesses. Riverhead Town Police conducted compliance checks at 15 businesses in Riverhead and Wading River on Monday, June 10. Of those, violations were reported at three stores. The following suspects were arrested on suspicion of unlawful dealing with a child, a misdemeanor: Suat Akkaya, age 33, of Wading River; employee of Village Beverage on Wading River Manor Road in Wading River Nicholas Alaia, age 21, of Calverton; employee of Riverhead Liquor Mart on Old Country Road in Riverhead Jenny Flores …
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