A late-afternoon walk across Long Beach Road in Oceanside turned tragic Thursday when a 78-year-old woman was struck in a marked crosswalk and left in critical condition, police said.
The crash happened around 4:41 p.m. at Long Beach Road and Weidner Avenue and involved a 2004 Chevrolet Express van. Nassau County police said the driver, who stayed at the scene, appeared intoxicated and was taken into custody on the spot.
Authorities identified the driver as 24-year-old Niall Duignan of Oceanside. The woman he allegedly hit was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was listed in critical condition, according to Daily Voice. Police said Duignan was arrested without incident and charged with driving while intoxicated and second-degree vehicular assault.
Charges and Legal Exposure
Prosecutors have accused Duignan of driving drunk and causing serious injury, a combination that can land a motorist in felony territory under New York law. Vehicular assault in the second degree is a class E felony when an intoxicated driver causes serious physical injury, according to New York Penal Law §120.03.
That charge sits on the lower rung of New York’s felony ladder but still represents a serious criminal allegation, particularly when paired with a DWI count after a pedestrian is left fighting for life.
Pedestrian Safety in New York
The Oceanside crash is part of a troubling pattern statewide. Preliminary traffic-safety figures show thousands of pedestrian-involved crashes in New York every year, including nearly 14,878 such crashes and 289 pedestrian deaths reported in 2024. Those numbers highlight how vulnerable older pedestrians can be on busy roads and have become a key focus of state safety campaigns, according to the New York DMV.
Officials have repeatedly warned that multi-lane arterials like Long Beach Road can be especially unforgiving corridors when drivers are distracted or impaired and pedestrians are trying to navigate crosswalks.
What Happens Next
Nassau County police said Duignan was scheduled to be arraigned Friday, June 19, in First District Court in Hempstead, according to Daily Voice. The department’s Collision Investigation Squad is still examining the scene and gathering evidence.
Prosecutors will review the crash investigation and the victim’s medical reports as they decide whether to stick with the current counts or seek additional charges.
