Police: Drunken Driver Causes 2 Northport Crashes, 4 Injured

Photo: Northport Fire Department

Three men and a woman were injured in Northport Tuesday morning after two separate accidents, both involving the same driver, authorities said.

The unidentified driver first crashed into a car at Ocean Avenue and Eaton’s Neck Road and reportedly fled the scene. He drove a short distance before plowing into and snapping a utility pole on Ocean Avenue near Steers, officials said.

Three men in the minivan, which overturned, suffered injuries from the crash. That crash took down part of a chain link fence, police said.

“He fled that scene and then ‘destroyed’ the van just north of Steers Avenue on Ocean Avenue,” Northport Village Police Chief Ric Bruckenthal said.

The minivan driver and his passengers were transported to Huntington Hospital. The driver consented to a blood test and was issued summonses for leaving the scene of an incident from the first crash, speed imprudent for conditions and driving while intoxicated, Bruckenthal said.

The Northport Fire Department responded to the second crash with an engine, heavy rescue ladder truck, two ambulances, first responder and fire police, under the command of First Assistant Chief Brad Wine. Two additional ambulances were requested from the East Northport and Eaton’s Neck fire departments. Nearly 30 firefighters and emergency medical personnel operated at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle in the hit and run, a woman, was also hospitalized, officials said.

In addition to Northport police, police from Asharoken Village as well as Suffolk County were at the scene.