Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after crashing his car into an ambulance on Long Island Monday evening, according to Suffolk Police. The collision occurred at 11:20 p.m. on Route 25A in Icklingham at the intersection with County Road 105, police said in a Facebook post.
The uninsured driver “selfishly decided to drink and drive” before the crash, according to the Forest Heath team of Suffolk Police. Officers said the man’s vehicle struck an NHS East of England Ambulance Service vehicle that was transporting a patient and family member to a local hospital at the time of the collision.
Police emphasized that the ambulance was not responding to an emergency call when the crash occurred, but was engaged in routine patient transport. The ambulance crew was traveling eastbound on Route 25A when the suspect’s vehicle collided with the emergency vehicle, according to the initial police report.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the crash, police confirmed. The patient being transported in the ambulance, along with their family member and the ambulance crew, were all unharmed in the collision. The 21-year-old driver also did not sustain injuries, though he was taken into custody at the scene.
Suffolk Police said the suspect’s “disgraceful actions will have to be answered for in interview when [he is] sober.” The man remained in police custody as of Monday evening while officers waited for him to become coherent enough for questioning about the incident.
The crash forced temporary lane closures on Route 25A while emergency responders cleared the scene and both vehicles were towed from the roadway. Traffic was diverted around the crash site for approximately two hours following the collision, with normal traffic flow resuming shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on Route 25A at its intersection with County Road 105 in Icklingham, a stretch of roadway that connects eastern Long Island communities to major medical facilities. This section of Route 25A serves as a critical corridor for emergency medical transport, with ambulances regularly using the route to transport patients between smaller community hospitals and larger trauma centers.
Route 25A through Icklingham is a two-lane roadway with a posted speed limit of 45 mph in the area where the collision occurred. The intersection with County Road 105 is controlled by traffic signals and sees moderate traffic volumes during evening hours, particularly from commuters returning home from work in nearby communities.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The 21-year-old suspect faces charges of driving while intoxicated and operating an uninsured motor vehicle, according to Suffolk Police. Additional charges may be filed pending the completion of the investigation and the suspect’s formal interview with detectives.
Police have not yet released the suspect’s name, pending his arraignment in Suffolk County District Court. The man is expected to be formally charged once he is deemed sober enough for questioning and processing. Suffolk County prosecutors will review the case to determine if additional charges are warranted given that the crash involved an emergency medical vehicle engaged in patient transport.
Broader Impact
The incident highlights the particular dangers posed by impaired drivers to emergency medical services on Long Island. Ambulances transporting patients operate under time-sensitive conditions and often cannot take evasive action when confronted by erratic drivers, making them vulnerable targets for collisions with intoxicated motorists who fail to yield proper right-of-way to emergency vehicles.