Two Suffolk County police officers in Wyandanch had a split second to save themselves on Friday night, May 15, when a car they had pulled over suddenly lurched forward and smashed into a row of parked vehicles and a marked patrol cruiser. Surveillance video released by authorities shows the officers stepping back as the car shoots past the stopped vehicle and slams into others. Both officers avoided serious injury, but several cars were left banged up, feeding growing local unease about impaired driving and the risks officers face on the roadside.
Police release footage
Suffolk County police later released video of the encounter, which began as what officers believed would be a routine traffic stop in Wyandanch, according to CBS New York. The outlet aired the footage alongside a brief segment that shows the officers quickly jumping out of the way as the stopped car is hit by the oncoming vehicle.
What the video shows
The crash took place around 10:30 p.m. on May 15 on Gordon Avenue near Straight Path and was captured by nearby surveillance cameras, News 12 Long Island reports. In the clip, the suspect’s vehicle speeds into two parked cars, then continues on to strike a marked Suffolk police unit. Police told the station that both officers, a man and a woman, were not injured. The driver, identified by officers as a 24-year-old Wyandanch man, was charged with driving while intoxicated, according to the report.
Charges and enforcement
The arrest came as Suffolk County officials were rolling out stepped-up patrols and new tools to crack down on drunk and drugged driving ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, per ABC7. As part of that push, authorities highlighted new saliva swab tests and reminded drivers that vehicles seized in DWI cases can be forfeited and destroyed.
Legal implications
The driver now faces DWI charges that under New York law can carry fines, license suspensions and possible jail time, depending on prior convictions and the level of intoxication, according to the New York State DMV. The DMV notes that penalties range from a minimum six-month license revocation for a DWI to steeper fines and longer revocations for aggravated or repeat offenses.
Why it matters
The video has become one more stark reminder of how quickly a routine traffic stop can turn dangerous and how much damage an impaired driver can do on crowded Long Island streets. Suffolk County police say the case remains under investigation and that the driver has been charged, with the courts set to determine what happens next.
