Husband of Woman Killed In Brentwood Crash Dies From Injuries: PD

BRENTWOOD, NY — A man who was seriously injured in a car crash that killed his wife, and involved a driver charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, died Tuesday, police said.

Rodolfo Polanco, 59, of Brentwood, was driving a 2004 Toyota Camry on Saturday when he was struck by a 2014 Acura TL on Second Avenue at 9:40 p.m., police said. The impact pushed the Toyota sideways into the westbound lane where it was struck in the passenger side by a westbound 2021 Jeep Wrangler, police said.

Polanco was taken to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore with serious injuries; his wife Soraida Polanco, 57, of Brentwood, a front-seat passenger in the Toyota, police said, was taken to the same hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Another passenger of the Toyota was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Christian Lopez, 27, of Brentwood, the driver of the Acura, was arrested and charged with DWAI, a misdemeanor, police said. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office will review the case to determine if upgraded charges will be filed, police said.

Two backseat passengers of the Jeep, 71 and 69, were taken to South Shore University Hospital with serious and non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The driver of the Jeep, a 39-year-old woman, and her two sons, 14 and 10, were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Lopez was transported to South Shore University Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released; he was held overnight at the Third Precinct and was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Sunday, police said.