A stolen car tore up the Southern State Parkway on April 7, turning an already notorious stretch of Long Island asphalt into the scene of yet another high-speed scare. The pursuit started in Hempstead and ended near Smithtown, and authorities say the vehicle rammed several marked New York State Police cruisers before it was finally boxed in. Two troopers were hurt, though police describe the injuries as minor and not life threatening. The chase came to a stop near the SM5W exit by Sunken Meadow State Park, where the two men inside were arrested and hit with a long list of felony and misdemeanor charges.
State police account
According to a New York State Police release, troopers first spotted the stolen vehicle traveling eastbound near Exit 22 of the Southern State Parkway at about 7:36 p.m. on April 7 and tried to pull it over. Instead of stopping, police say, the driver took off at a high rate of speed.
The chase continued east and then swung north onto the Sagtikos Parkway before ending near Smithtown. An April 8 update from New York State Police identified Joshua Rosario-Rivera, 38, as the driver and Boubacar Diallo, 39, as the passenger taken into custody.
Charges listed by police
In their written summary, New York State Police stated that "Pending charges at this time include:" and listed assault on a police officer, criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree and third-degree grand larceny. The release also cites reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration, unlawful fleeing and resisting arrest.
On top of that, troopers noted an unclassified charge of driving while ability impaired by drugs, along with multiple vehicle and traffic violations that stacked up over the course of the pursuit.
How it ended and aftermath
The pursuit, which Patch reported began near North Merrick, eventually wound north on the Sagtikos Parkway and ended close to the SM5W exit by Sunken Meadow State Park in Smithtown. Police say the suspects were taken into custody there without further incident, even after the stolen vehicle struck several marked trooper vehicles during the chase.
Newport Dispatch reports that two troopers suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries and were treated following the incident. Troop L's public information office has said investigators are still developing the case.
Southern State's safety record
The Southern State Parkway has built a grim reputation, and this chase is only the latest entry on its incident list. In January, Hoodline covered a deadly Southern State crash that killed two people and injured several others near North Massapequa. More recently, a separate high-speed case ended with a Queens driver plea after a 123 mph crash on the same roadway.
Those back-to-back headlines have many local drivers on edge and have pushed officials into yet another round of safety discussions about the parkway that Long Islanders have long dubbed "Blood Alley."
What’s next
Authorities say the investigation into the April 7 pursuit remains active, and that more information will be released by state police as their probe continues. Prosecutors will review the case before any formal felony filings are announced.
Court dates for Rosario-Rivera and Diallo were not immediately available. Officials are asking anyone who may have video or other information about the pursuit to contact Troop L's public information office.
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