Post by gadget105 on Oct 31, 2008 17:16:43 GMT -5
Two troopers hurt in Northern State accident
Two state troopers were injured during a routine traffic stop on the Northern State Parkway early Friday when their patrol car was rear-ended by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, the state police said. The injuries were not life-threatening.
It was 4:11 a.m. when Troopers Anthony M. Longarello and Jose A. Vargas were engaged in the traffic stop in the westbound lanes at the Exit 24 ramp leading to Little Neck Road, state police said.
The location was in Queens, about three-fourths of a mile west of the Nassau County line where the Northern becomes the Grand Central Parkway, police said.
The troopers had stopped a 2001 Honda for a traffic violation, and they had parked the patrol vehicle behind the Honda on an area of hazard markings at the exit ramp, police said.
The patrol car had its full emergency lighting turned on, police said.
Both troopers were standing outside the Honda interviewing the occupants when a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder operated by Ilya B. Gerasimov, 22, of East 21st Street, Brooklyn, struck the rear of the patrol vehicle, causing it to strike the rear of the Honda, police said.
During the collision, Trooper Longarello was hit by the patrol vehicle, breaking his right femur, giving him a concussion and cutting his face, police said.
Trooper Vargas was hit by the Honda, injuring his back and elbows.
Both troopers were taken by ambulance to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Manhasset, police said. Vargas was treated and released.
Longarello was treated for the cuts to his face, and by early afternoon he was in surgery for his fractured leg bone, police said.
The occupants of the Honda, two 25-year-old males, were not injured; nor was Gerasimov, the driver of the Pathfinder, police said.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Gerasimov fell asleep while driving faster than the speed limit, police said. He faces initial charges of speeding and driving across hazard markings, police said.
Gerasimov also was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
Maj. Walter Heesch, commander of the Troop L barracks that administers state police activities on Long Island, said, "I have to impress on the motoring public that 'driving while drowsy' is one of the leading causes of serious traffic collisions."
The investigation is continuing
Two state troopers were injured during a routine traffic stop on the Northern State Parkway early Friday when their patrol car was rear-ended by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, the state police said. The injuries were not life-threatening.
It was 4:11 a.m. when Troopers Anthony M. Longarello and Jose A. Vargas were engaged in the traffic stop in the westbound lanes at the Exit 24 ramp leading to Little Neck Road, state police said.
The location was in Queens, about three-fourths of a mile west of the Nassau County line where the Northern becomes the Grand Central Parkway, police said.
The troopers had stopped a 2001 Honda for a traffic violation, and they had parked the patrol vehicle behind the Honda on an area of hazard markings at the exit ramp, police said.
The patrol car had its full emergency lighting turned on, police said.
Both troopers were standing outside the Honda interviewing the occupants when a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder operated by Ilya B. Gerasimov, 22, of East 21st Street, Brooklyn, struck the rear of the patrol vehicle, causing it to strike the rear of the Honda, police said.
During the collision, Trooper Longarello was hit by the patrol vehicle, breaking his right femur, giving him a concussion and cutting his face, police said.
Trooper Vargas was hit by the Honda, injuring his back and elbows.
Both troopers were taken by ambulance to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Manhasset, police said. Vargas was treated and released.
Longarello was treated for the cuts to his face, and by early afternoon he was in surgery for his fractured leg bone, police said.
The occupants of the Honda, two 25-year-old males, were not injured; nor was Gerasimov, the driver of the Pathfinder, police said.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Gerasimov fell asleep while driving faster than the speed limit, police said. He faces initial charges of speeding and driving across hazard markings, police said.
Gerasimov also was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
Maj. Walter Heesch, commander of the Troop L barracks that administers state police activities on Long Island, said, "I have to impress on the motoring public that 'driving while drowsy' is one of the leading causes of serious traffic collisions."
The investigation is continuing
