Drunken Driver Jumps Curb, Hits Family On Sidewalk: Police

Three people, including an 11-year-old boy, were injured after a drunk driver jumped the curb and drove into them in Freeport Monday afternoon, police say.

According to police, Mitchell Messling, 66, of South Chestnut Street, Massapequa, was driving a blue 2018 BMW west on West Merrick Road near South Long Beach Avenue. Witnesses say he was swerving all over the road, and then jumped the curb and struck a family on the sidewalk, CBS reported.

The boy was taken by helicopter to Cohen Children's Medical Center in Queens, and his parents were taken by ambulance to Nassau University Medical Center, according to ABC7. They all had non-life-threatening injuries.

When Freeport police arrived on the scene, they say they found Messling was slurring his speech, had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He was placed under arrest at the scene.

Messling is charged with second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular assault, two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead.