19-Year-Old Man Charged With DWI, Fleeing Scene After Fatal Crash in Port Jeff Station

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY – A 19-year-old man was arrested for driving drunk and fleeing the scene of a fatal crash in Port Jefferson Station crash Sunday evening, police said.

According to Suffolk Police, 31-year-old Bob Hidalgo was driving a 2011 Toyota Corolla south on Route 112 near Sagamore Hills Drive when his vehicle was struck by a 1995 Nissan Maxima traveling southbound on Route 112 at 5:10 p.m.

The driver of the Maxima, Jose Benitez, fled on foot and was apprehended a short time later by Sixth Precinct Police Officer Matthew Cameron, police said.

Hidalgo, of Coram, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Taisha Hidalgo, 30, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Benitez, of Selden, was transported to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson for treatment of minor injuries he received in the crash.

Major Case Unit detectives charged Benitez with DWI and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death. Benitez was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip Monday.

The vehicles were impounded for safety checks and the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Major Case Unit detectives at 852-6555.