Kids In Jeep Crash Near Splish Splash Had No Seat Belts: Cops

RIVERHEAD, NY — Three kids in a crash near Splish Splash that caused two of the children to be ejected from the vehicle and then hit by one of the Jeep's tires were not wearing seat belts, police said.

According to the Riverhead Police Department, on Tuesday at 3:37 p.m., there was a two-car crash with nine people injured at the intersection of New York State Route 25 and Splish Splash Drive in Calverton.

Joshua Alvin Burns was driving a 2014 Jeep Wrangler with seven passengers, including three children who were not in car seats or wearing seat belts, police said. Burns was turning left onto Splish Splash Drive and turned in front of an eastbound 2007 Dodge Charger driven by Ronaldo A. Paiz, police said.

The two vehicles collided in the intersection and two children were ejected from the Jeep Wrangler, police said. After being thrown from the vehicle, witnesses reported that the children were struck by one of the Jeep’s tires before the vehicle came to a stop with the tire on top of the children, police said.

Both children, an 11-year old girl and a 5-year old boy, were airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital by two separate helicopters from the Suffolk County Police Aviation Unit; several area ambulances were dispatched to the scene. Four additional victims were transported to Stony Brook Hospital by ambulance and three were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center.

None of the injuries were found to be life threatening, including those of the two children who were ejected, police said.

The New York State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation, which is ongoing.

Joshua Alvin Burns was issued traffic tickets for seat belt violations involving three unsecured children in the vehicle, police said. He was additionally issued a ticket for having an inadequate, or bald, tire, police said.

The accident is still under investigation and additional charges may be filed, police said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500.

Police did not immediately disclose Burns' age or place of residence.

Patch file photo.