Police: L.I. Man Charged With DWI After Seriously Injuring 2 In Crash
HOLBROOK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Centereach man has been arrested for driving while intoxicated after police said he crashed his car into another vehicle, seriously injuring that car's driver and her passenger.
It happened just after midnight Wednesday at the intersection of Holbrook Road and the Long Island Expressway North Service Road in Holbrook.
James O'Donnell, 47, was driving on Holbrook Road when he hit a Lincoln, police said.
The driver of the Lincoln, 26-year-old Kristen Iacono and her passenger, 30-year-old Joseph Kemp, were both injured in the crash and taken to the hospital.
O'Donnell wasn't hurt, but was charged with DWI, according to police. He's set to be arraigned in Central Islip on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a state survey finds 70 percent of people convicted of drunken driving aren't using a required ignition interlock system that detects alcohol, according to State Sen. Charles Fuschillo.
The Long Island Republican and Democratic Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg are proposing laws that would boost penalties for failure to use the electronic system.
Fuschillo says some people convicted of drunken driving and required to use the device are claiming they don't own or operate a vehicle or put their car in someone else's name until the six-month period expires.
The measure is part of Leandra's Law passed in 2009 after an 11-year-old girl was killed while riding in a car driven by an intoxicated woman.
Leandra's father, Lenny Rosado, says the loophole needs to be closed to prevent similar tragedies.
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