4 Hurt In Crash While Fleeing Traffic Stop: Nassau Police

LYNBROOK, NY — Three men and a teen were arrested by Nassau County police early Saturday morning after police say they crashed their car while fleeing from a traffic stop. Officers later found a loaded gun in the car.

According to police, an officer was on patrol at 2:26 a.m. Saturday when they saw a 2006 BMW speeding east on Sunrise Highway without its headlights on. The officer turned on his lights and tried to pull the car over, but it fled the scene. The car soon lost control and struck the center median on Sunrise Highway, near Forest Avenue. All four people in the car suffered injuries and were arrested.

The driver, Rodney Smokes, 21, of Grand Avenue, Lynbrook, fractured his right leg. The front passenger, a 16-year-old boy from Hempstead, fractured his ribs. Gregory Herrera, 18, of Grenada Avenue, Roosevelt, who was one of the rear passengers, suffered a cut to his head and a fractured left arm. And Jablee cohen, 19, of Jericho Turnpike, Floral Park, who was also a rear passenger, fractured his neck and skull.

After the crash, police say a loaded handgun was found in the car.

Smokes is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. The other three were each charged with criminal possession of a firearm. All four will be arraigned when medically practical.