Long Island witnessed a heartbreaking tragedy early Thursday morning when a 9-year-old boy lost his life in a devastating head-on collision. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on the Southern State Parkway near exit 42, marking a somber day for the community.
According to Suffolk County police, the crash was caused by a vehicle traveling the wrong way on the parkway. The driver of this vehicle was later identified as the boy’s mother, a resident of Centerport. Preliminary investigations suggest that she had been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.
The chain of events leading to the fatal crash began when a Suffolk County deputy sheriff attempted to pull over the wrong-way vehicle. The deputy had spotted the vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes and initiated a traffic stop. However, the driver did not comply with the deputy’s signals. In an effort to ensure public safety, the deputy decided to abandon the pursuit and instead followed the vehicle from a safer distance in the westbound lanes.
When the deputy was able to re-enter the eastbound lanes, he encountered a horrific scene—a four-car pileup at exit 42. Emergency responders arrived promptly and found the 9-year-old boy in the backseat of the vehicle involved in the collision. Despite their urgent efforts to revive him, which included performing CPR and using an automated external defibrillator, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
The boy’s mother sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip for treatment. Authorities believe that the mother may have been driving the wrong way for some time before the crash, possibly extending her dangerous route onto the Sunrise Highway before eventually entering the Southern State Parkway.
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Following the crash, the mother underwent field sobriety tests, and charges are expected to be filed pending the results of these tests and further investigations. The tragic event also resulted in injuries to the occupants of the other three vehicles involved in the collision. They were taken to South Side Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital, with their injuries reported to be non-life-threatening.
The force of the crash was so severe that it separated the engine from the wrong-way vehicle, which was then thrown into oncoming traffic. This detail underscores the intensity of the collision and the chaotic aftermath that emergency responders had to manage.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, along with the state Attorney General’s Office, is conducting a thorough investigation into the crash. They are working to piece together the full details of the incident and determine any further legal actions that may be necessary.
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This tragic accident has cast a shadow over the Long Island community, highlighting the critical importance of road safety and the severe consequences of impaired driving. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a young life and hopes for justice and accountability in the wake of this devastating event.