Manhunt Underway After Brick Hits 2 People In Car On Meadowbrook State Parkway
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Monday were trying to determine who threw a brick down onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway on Long Island, leaving a driver and passenger hurt.
As CBS2's Steve Langford reported, this was not the first time that someone pulled such a dangerous stunt.
The brick smashed through the windshield of a 1996 BMW, striking the driver – Ryan Civitello, 21, of Island Park -- in the right shoulder, police said. The passenger – Brianna Rios, 22, of West Hempstead -- was bruised in the eye and mouth, according to police.
"I'm throwing every available resource at this," said Major David Candelaria, commander of the New York State Police Troop L. "I want to catch these kids."
The couple was very lucky to have survived. In fact, Civitello was able to drive straight to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.
Police said there had been prior similar incidents at this overpass.
"We had several reports of youths throwing bricks, rocks over the overpass onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway," Candelaria said.
Fencing has unfortunately not prevented the nightmarish reoccurrence of these potentially such incidents over the years.
"The folks who do it belong in jail," one woman said. "It's attempted murder."
The prospect of taking a flying brick to the windshield at 60 mph on the highway is enough to sicken drivers.
"Why would you even do that?" one man said. "What's the sense?"
"A brick comes through your window – something's wrong with a lot of people," another man said.
Major Candelaria called on the public to help solve the case.
"I'm pleading to the public if anyone saw anything please come forward, and everything will remain confidential," he said.
The investigation continued late Monday.