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Ayne11
Yep
Member since 1/09 18021 total posts
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For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
From Newsday...
Police have charged an impaired motorist with driving the wrong way on a Long Island road - but not before the driver hit two vehicles head-on Tuesday in Calverton, police said.
One of the drivers who was hit suffered nonlife-threatening injuries and the other was uninjured, Riverhead Town Police said.
Police said the crash occurred at 5:09 p.m. on Route 25 after frantic motorists called 911 to report a Nissan Altima headed east in the westbound lanes, police said.
Police said officers responding to the 911 calls couldn't reach the scene before Ryan T. McCready crashed into a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2006 Ford pickup truck.
McCready, 26, of Miller Place, was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated by drugs, as well as seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally possessing a hypodermic needle, police said. He was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center with unspecified injuries.
Police said the Jeep, driven by Serafina Zoda, 52, of Port Jefferson, was sent into an embankment, while the pickup truck, driven by Brian Pina, 30, of Miller Place, remained on the westbound roadway. Zoda was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center.
The incident is the latest in seven wrong-way incursions in Nassau and Suffolk since Nov. 15. In the previous six cases, the drivers were all headed west in the eastbound lanes. In one of those cases, police said off-duty NYPD officer Andre Menzies was killed by a Brooklyn man with a 0.26 percent blood-alcohol content - more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent in New York. That accident was on Northern State Parkway in Dix Hills.
In the most recent incident before Tuesday's, a Nassau County police Highway Patrol Bureau officer early Sunday was able to stop driver Bernadette Behensky, 20, of Huntington Station, just 100 feet after she turned onto Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow in the wrong direction in her 2005 Volvo. She was charged with aggravated DWI, DWI, driving the wrong way on a one-way street and numerous vehicle and traffic law violations.
Tuesday's crash came the same day Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced a heightened enforcement campaign aimed at stopping wrong-way and impaired drivers. That campaign includes DWI checkpoints at what officials called "highly trafficked intersections," as well as on highway ramps and at shopping centers throughout Suffolk. The announcement was made with the support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
In Nassau, County Executive Edward Mangano, along with Nassau police Commissioner Lawrence W. Mulvey, announced a program Tuesday also aimed at combating drunken driving called the "Holiday Free Ride Initiative." Between now and Jan. 1 Mangano said area taxi companies will give free rides to those who need a ride home following a night of celebration in order to deter DWI this holiday season.
"The local taxi companies providing free rides this holiday season truly embody the spirit and generosity we hope to endear," Mangano said in a prepared statement. "Don't drink and drive . . . instead, take the free ride."
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Posted 12/15/10 10:20 AM  |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
Could it be that this stuff always happened but now it's getting more publicity? I can't imagine a rise in this for no specific reason. Not to make light of it that is...just wondering why we never heard this so often before.
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| Posted 12/15/10 10:23 AM |
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janet
WITH LOVE MY ANGEL MISS YOU!!!
Member since 5/05 12823 total posts
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janet
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
Posted by Goobster
Could it be that this stuff always happened but now it's getting more publicity? I can't imagine a rise in this for no specific reason. Not to make light of it that is...just wondering why we never heard this so often before.
I just said the same thing yesterday. This, either way is very sad :(
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| Posted 12/15/10 10:27 AM |
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heathergirl
Cocktail Time!
Member since 10/08 4978 total posts
Name:
American mouth
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
Posted by Goobster
Could it be that this stuff always happened but now it's getting more publicity? I can't imagine a rise in this for no specific reason. Not to make light of it that is...just wondering why we never heard this so often before.
Very good point...has it just been highlighted in the media since the Taconic crash, or is there really this significant an increase? Either way it is just awful!
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| Posted 12/15/10 10:27 AM |
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peanutbutter2
Carpe diem!
Member since 11/10 5287 total posts
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
I don't get whyyy this keeps occurring!
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| Posted 12/15/10 10:50 AM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
I just don't get it - to be that impaired to not realize what side of the road you are supposed to be on and still get behind the wheel? Someone once said on here that if you have ANY alcohol it should be illegal to drive. I guess that should be the case since apparently people don't realize their limits
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| Posted 12/15/10 12:14 PM |
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DMT
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 2277 total posts
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
I really think none of this will stop until we get more strict on drunk driving period. Offenders are getting a slap on the wrist it seems. Make the penalties much higher and maybe people will think before they get behind the wheel.
I feel this way about most crime though. Not strict enough penalties across the board in my opinion!
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| Posted 12/15/10 12:23 PM |
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LeShellem
A new beginning
Member since 2/07 3600 total posts
Name:
LeShelle
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
I heard this this morning. The only thing that made me feel good about this is that only the wrong way driver was hospitalized.
I don't know what needs to be done but something needs to be done. To think this can happen when my son is in the car is beyond scary.
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| Posted 12/15/10 2:13 PM |
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LoriH
There's no place like home
Member since 8/07 4110 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
Posted by Goobster
Could it be that this stuff always happened but now it's getting more publicity? I can't imagine a rise in this for no specific reason. Not to make light of it that is...just wondering why we never heard this so often before.
I think it is partly because of the Taconic crash and being more visable in the media. I also believe the poor economy plays a role. Too many jobless, hopeless people out there who feel they have nothing else to lose. There has historically been an increase in crime and reckless behavior such as drunk driving during times of recession.
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| Posted 12/15/10 2:25 PM |
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MrsH2009
Thank you St. Gerard!
Member since 8/09 6631 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
This guy has a drug issue. He was a coach and teacher at Southampton and lost his job after other drug arrests.
Southampton Press
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| Posted 12/15/10 4:12 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: For the fourth time in a week and the second time since Sunday......
That's the Holidays, for you. 
Every year I dread it.
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| Posted 12/15/10 4:36 PM |
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