5-Year-Old On Bike Hit By Drunk Driver: Cops

RIVERHEAD, NY — A 5-year-old boy on a bicycle was hit by a drunk driver on Long Island Saturday, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, the incident took place on Lewis Street and Doris Avenue in Riverhead at 6:41 p.m.; police received a call about a crash involving a vehicle and a child on a bicycle at the intersection.

When police arrived at the scene, the boy, who police did not name, was found lying on the roadway with serious injuries to his head; he was treated by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital by Suffolk County Aviation. He is in serious condition, police said.

William H. Downing, 78, of Riverhead, who was driving a 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT when involved in the crash, stayed at the scene, police said.

Downing was attempting to make a left turn onto Doris Avenue from Lewis Street when he struck the child, police said.

Downing was arrested and charged with DWI, pending toxicology results, police said.

The case is ongoing and anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to contact the Riverhead Police Department's detective division at 631-727-4500 ext. 326.

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