Man On Drugs Flees Southern State Crash, Punches State Trooper In Face: Police

A 26-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after he punched a state trooper in the face following a single-car crash on the Southern State Parkway Monday morning, State Police said.

The trooper responded to the crash on the westbound parkway, east of Exit 24, in North Merrick around 9:45 a.m., police said.

When the trooper arrived, the driver, Eventz J. Francois, who was allegedly driving while high on drugs, fled the scene on foot and entered a residential neighborhood located on Foxglove Road, police said.

The trooper confronted Francois on Foxglove Road and asked him if he was OK, police said. Francois then struck the trooper in his left eye with a closed fist, police said.

The trooper, who sustained injuries to his eye and was later treated at a local hospital, was able to place Francois into custody with the assistance of good Samaritans, police said.

Francois, of Amityville, is charged with assault on a police officer and second degree assault, both felonies. He's also charged with two counts of fourth degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest, second degree obstructing governmental administration and driving while ability impaired by drugs.

Francois is scheduled to be arraigned in Nassau County First District Court in Hempstead on Tuesday.

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