Drunk Driver Hits Pedestrian, Leaves Scene: Police

PATCHOGUE, NY — A Mastic man was charged with DWI and leaving the scene after he struck a pedestrian and left the scene, police said.

According to Suffolk County Police, Roberto Ortez, 38, was arrested on Sunday at 2:07 a.m. and charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash.

The incident occurred between at North Ocean Ave. and River Ave. on Sunday at 2:07 a.m., police said. Ortez was driving a 2005 Nissan Armada west on Main Street in Patchogue when he struck a 30-year-old East Patchogue man who was crossing the street near the intersection of North Ocean Avenue; Ortez continued driving west for one eighth of a mile when he then rear-ended a Ford Expedition and struck a utility pole near River Avenue, police said.

Both the East Patchogue man and Ortez were transported to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue for treatment of minor injuries; the driver of the Ford was not injured, police said.

Ortez was held overnight at the Fifth Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Sunday morning, police said.

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