Man Arrested for DWI After Passenger Critically Injured in Crash: Police

NISSEQUOGUE, NY - A Brentwood man was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs after a crash that left a passenger in his car critically injured, police said.

According to police, Smithtown Park Rangers in an unmarked vehicle saw a suspicious vehicle parked at the gate to the Short Beach Town Park around 10:20 p.m. Friday. The Rangers activated their vehicle’s emergency lights and began to approach the vehicle on foot when the operator put the car into drive and sped off, disobeying the commands to stop by one of the Rangers, police said.

The Rangers returned to their vehicle and traveled south on Short Beach Road where they found that the vehicle, a 2011 Nissan Maxima, had crashed and overturned into the woods, knocking down a utility pole, police said.

Julian Arango, 19, of Brentwood, a passenger in the rear seat was transported via Nissequogue Ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. The driver, Alberto Guzman and his front seat passenger, Eric Gomez, 19, of Nissequogue, were transported via St James Ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Guzman, 21, of St. James was charged with third-degree driving while under the influence of drugs and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Guzman will be arraigned at a later date. The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact the Fourth Squad at 854-8452.

Image via Shutterstock