Suffolk Teen Crashes Stolen Car In Woods During Chase With Deputies: Sheriff

BROOKHAVEN, NY — A Bayport teen found himself in cuffs after he sped away from a traffic stop in a stolen car that crashed into the woods off of Sunrise Highway early Thursday morning, Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon's office said.

Deputy sheriffs saw a vehicle pass their unit eastbound on Sunrise Highway in Brookhaven at about 12:25 a.m. They tried to initiate a traffic stop when the speeding vehicle accelerated to 122 mph and weaved through traffic "in an unsafe manner," according to Toulon's office.

The driver then tried to leave Sunrise Highway, but lost control and crashed into the woods on the service road, his office said.

Dion Moore, 18, of Bayport, had been driving a 2019 Acura that was reported stolen Tuesday, and he also had a stolen Chase Bank Visa debit card that belonged to the owner of the Acura, according to Toulon's office.

Moore was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue where he was found to be fit for confinement and released to deputy sheriffs, Toulon's office said.

He was charged with third-and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, and reckless driving.

He will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Friday.

Sheriff Errol Toulon credited his deputy sheriffs for patrolling the county’s roads "to keep the public safe."

"This driver was operating a stolen car in very dangerous manner and luckily no other drivers were harmed in his apprehension," he said. "I am proud of my deputy sheriffs’ ongoing vigilance in protecting the residents of Suffolk County.”