Mastic Beach Man Bolted From Officers In Stolen U-Haul Involved In Hit-And-Run In Farmingville: Police

FARMINGVILLE, NY — A Mastic Beach man with drugs in his possession bolted from a traffic stop in a U-Haul van, and then was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Farmingville on Sunday, Suffolk police said.

Officers tried to pull over a 2025 Ford van, which was reported stolen from the rental company, on eastbound Sunrise Highway Service Road in Patchogue, and the bolted, driving recklessly, then was involved in a hit-and-run crash with another vehicle while traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes on Express Drive North in Holtsville, according to police.

The van was abandoned on Lidge Drive in Farmingville, and the occupants ran from the scene, police said.

The driver of the vehicle, Gerald Matzen, 42, was located by police on Dogwood Avenue in Farmingville at around 10:30 a.m., according to police.

He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash with property damage, third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawful fleeing a police officer, reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree reckless endangerment, police said.

He was also issued multiple traffic summonses and was charged with multiple outstanding warrants, police said, adding that a passenger in the vehicle, Edwin Jefferson, 48, of Mastic Beach, was found on nearby John Drive, and was charged with multiple outstanding warrants.

There were no injuries reported in the hit-and-run crash, according to police.

The pair was held overnight at the 6th Precinct in Selden for arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip on Monday.

It was not immediately clear if they have legal representation.