Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
An 18-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into oncoming traffic on Jericho Turnpike in West Hills, leaving a 69-year-old woman seriously injured in a three-car collision that shut down the major roadway for nearly six hours, according to Suffolk County police.
Richard Bello was driving eastbound on Jericho Turnpike with a 17-year-old passenger when he lost control of his car and veered into the westbound lanes, police say. The vehicle struck an SUV head-on before colliding with a third car and ultimately crashing into a wall, according to News 12 reports.
The 69-year-old driver of the SUV sustained serious physical injuries in the head-on collision and required extensive rescue efforts before she could be transported to a local hospital, Suffolk police reported. Witnesses at the scene said it took emergency responders approximately 40 minutes to extricate the woman from her severely damaged vehicle before an ambulance could transport her for medical treatment.
Both teenagers in the initial vehicle were also hospitalized following the crash, though police say their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The 18-year-old driver Bello and his 17-year-old passenger were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital. The driver and passenger in the third vehicle involved in the collision were uninjured in the incident, according to police reports.
The severity of the crash and the extensive rescue operation required a prolonged closure of Jericho Turnpike between Sweet Hollow Road and Paumonok Drive. The major east-west thoroughfare remained shut down for nearly six hours while emergency crews worked to extract the seriously injured woman, clear the damaged vehicles, and investigate the scene of the collision.
Video footage from the crash scene showed the extensive damage to Bello’s vehicle after it struck the wall following the multi-car collision. The footage captured the aftermath of the violent sequence of impacts that began when the teenage driver lost control and crossed into oncoming traffic on the busy roadway.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on Jericho Turnpike in West Hills, specifically between Sweet Hollow Road and Paumonok Drive. This section of Jericho Turnpike serves as a major east-west corridor through central Suffolk County, connecting multiple communities and handling significant daily traffic volumes through residential and commercial areas.
Jericho Turnpike runs for approximately 20 miles across Nassau and Suffolk counties, serving as an alternative route to the Long Island Expressway for local and commuter traffic. The West Hills section where the crash occurred features a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial establishments, with multiple intersections and driveways that require careful navigation by drivers traveling in both directions.
Broader Impact
The nearly six-hour closure of Jericho Turnpike between two major cross streets during what appeared to be a weekend day created significant traffic disruptions for residents and businesses in the West Hills area. The extended closure time was necessitated by the complex rescue operation required to safely extract the seriously injured SUV driver, highlighting how the severity of injuries can compound the broader impact of traffic accidents beyond the immediate victims involved.