Man Arrested After Causing Wrong-Way Crash on Long Island Expressway

A man from Westchester County was arrested and subsequently charged with reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated after allegedly causing a wrong-way crash on the Long Island expressway.

The accident occurred in the early hours of Monday, May 22. According to police, the man entered the highway on an off-ramp in his 2007 Nissan Murano, driving west in the eastbound lanes. The crash with the 2013 Nissan Altima happened close to Exit 46 in Plainview. The Altima’s 24-year-old driver was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where she was treated for her injuries and later released. The driver who reportedly caused the crash also required medical assistance.

Police officers had attempted to use stop sticks and various other maneuvers to catch the vehicle before the driver caused an accident. While they failed in preventing the crash, they were successful in using techniques to slow down traffic near Exit 43 beforehand.

Wrong-way accidents extremely deadly

These types of car accidents tend to be particularly dangerous, especially when they occur on freeways and at high speeds. In many cases, wrong-way accidents are caused by intoxicated motorists, although there are some instances in which a lack of attention or poor signage could be to blame.

Drunk drivers are often considered automatically liable for these crashes. In addition to criminal charges, they may also face civil action on the part of the individuals injured due to their negligence. This may come in the form of a personal injury claim or a wrongful death lawsuit if the crash was fatal.

For more information on how to proceed if you have been injured due to another party’s negligence, consult an experienced auto accident lawyer with Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.