Holtsville, NY - December 11, 2017 - Suffolk County Police arrested a man for driving while intoxicated after a single car crash resulted in a serious injury to a 14-year-old passenger in the vehicle.
Nicholas Criesi was driving a 2010 Honda Civic westbound on Express Drive North, near LIE exit 62, when he lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and crashed into a tree at approximately 9:05 p.m. on December 10. Criesi fled the scene of the accident, leaving a 14-year-old female passenger unconscious and seriously injured in the front seat of the Civic. She was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. She was met at the hospital by her grandmother.
Sixth Precinct Police officers, Aviation Section officers and Canine Section officers conducted a search of the area. Criesi was located nearby, on Lakeside Drive, and arrested at 9:50 p.m. Criesi was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Sixth Squad detectives charged Criesi, 18, of Holtsville, with Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger 15 Years Old or Younger (Leandra’s Law), Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Leaving the Scene of an Incident Involving a Personal Injury, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle 3rd Degree. Criesi is being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip on December 11.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about this crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.