Man Charged In Crash That Ejected 2 Kids Near Splish Splash: Cops

CALVERTON, NY — A man has been charged in a crash near Splish Splash that left two children, who were not wearing seat belts, injured after they were thrown from the back of his Jeep Wrangler, police said.

Riverhead Police Department arrested Joshua A. Burns on Wednesday and charged him with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

The charges stemmed from an investigation into a crash in Calverton on Aug. 7. Burns was driving a 2014 Jeep Wrangler from the Bronx to Calverton with seven additional passengers in the vehicle, including three children who were not in car seats or wearing seat belts, police said.

A 10-month old boy was sitting on an adult's lap at the time of the crash, police said. An 11-year old girl and a 6-year old boy were seated in the rear cargo area with no seats or seat belts; they were both ejected during the crash, 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 previously.

The crash was caused by Burns, who, while attempting to turn onto Splish Splash Drive, turned in front of an eastbound vehicle, causing the collision, police said. The children are recovering from non-life threatening injuries.

Burns turned himself in at the Riverhead Police Department where he was processed and released with a return court date in September, police said.

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

Patch photo courtesy Riverhead Police Department.