Man Struck On LIE After Getting Out Of Car; Driver Charged: Police

MELVILLE, NY — A Manorville man was arrested on drug and driving charges Sunday after a pedestrian was seriously injured in a crash on the Long Island Expressway in Melville, Suffolk County police said.

Paven Putt Bhat, 27, of Center Moriches, was driving a 2025 Nissan Altima eastbound in the HOV lane near Exit 50 when his vehicle struck the median at about 5:50 a.m., police said.

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Bhat got out of the vehicle to inspect the damage and was then struck by a 2019 Honda Civic driven by Cristian Guevara, according to police.

Bhat was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip with serious injuries, police said.

Police said Guevara and his passenger, John Hurtado-Conde, were found in possession of narcotics.

Guevara, 28, was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, third- and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Hurtado-Conde, 31, of Flanders, was charged with third- and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, according to police.

Guevara and Hurtado-Conde were held overnight at the Third Precinct and were scheduled to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Central Islip, police said.

The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.