Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 67-year-old Deer Park man was arrested Monday evening after allegedly striking a 13-year-old bicyclist with his vehicle in West Islip and then driving away without stopping, according to Suffolk County Police. News 12 Long Island first reported the incident late Monday night, identifying the suspect as Charles Dreitlein, 67, of Deer Park.
According to Suffolk County Police, the crash occurred at approximately 7:35 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2026 — an early summer evening well before sunset — at the intersection of Ruth Street and Kane Street in West Islip. That is when Dreitlein allegedly struck the 13-year-old bicyclist with his vehicle. The exact nature of the impact and the child’s specific injuries have not been detailed in official statements, though the charges filed indicate the collision resulted in personal injury.
Rather than stopping to check on the child or wait for emergency services, Dreitlein allegedly continued driving, proceeding along Roderick Road without stopping, according to News 12 Long Island. Surveillance video of the incident was later broadcast by the outlet, showing the driver striking the teen and departing the scene, offering a visual account that assisted investigators in identifying the vehicle and its operator.
Suffolk County Police conducted an investigation following the Sunday evening incident, and by Monday evening — less than 24 hours after the crash — officers located Dreitlein and took him into custody outside his home. The relatively swift identification and arrest suggest that investigators were able to use witness accounts, surveillance footage, and vehicle registration records to trace the vehicle back to Dreitlein in short order. No details about the specific unit or detective squad that handled the investigation were released in initial reports.
The 13-year-old’s current medical condition was not described in available reports, though the assault charge implies that law enforcement determined the injuries met the legal threshold for that offense under New York State law. The child’s identity has not been released, consistent with standard practice for juvenile victims.
Location & Road Context
The crash took place at the intersection of Ruth Street and Kane Street in West Islip, a residential community on the South Shore of Suffolk County. After the collision, Dreitlein allegedly fled via Roderick Road, which runs through the same residential neighborhood. West Islip is a densely populated hamlet within the Town of Islip, where residential streets like those involved in this incident typically see significant pedestrian and bicycle activity, particularly during the longer daylight hours of early June. The proximity of multiple intersecting neighborhood streets in this area of West Islip makes it a common route for young cyclists traveling between homes, parks, and local destinations. Dreitlein himself resided in neighboring Deer Park, located just north of West Islip within Suffolk County.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Following his arrest on Monday evening, Charles Dreitlein was charged with two counts: assault and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury, both serious criminal charges under New York State law. The assault charge, in particular, elevates this incident beyond a standard traffic violation, reflecting law enforcement’s determination that Dreitlein’s actions — striking a child and fleeing — met the threshold for criminal culpability. News 12 Long Island confirmed that Dreitlein was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, at the First District Court in Central Islip, which handles criminal matters for the western portion of Suffolk County. No bail information was publicly available at the time of initial reporting.
Under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury is a Class A misdemeanor at minimum, and can be elevated to a felony depending on the severity of the injuries and circumstances. The assault charge, depending on the degree alleged by prosecutors, could carry significant additional penalties. Dreitlein’s arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip would have been the first formal step in what could become a lengthier criminal proceeding, at which point bail conditions, if any, would be formally set by a judge.
Broader Impact
Hit-and-run incidents involving child cyclists on Long Island’s residential streets draw particular scrutiny from both law enforcement and the public, and in this case, the availability of surveillance video — aired by News 12 Long Island — proved instrumental in identifying Dreitlein and enabling a fast arrest. Residents and parents in West Islip and surrounding South Shore communities are reminded that under New York law, drivers are legally required to stop, render reasonable assistance, and exchange information any time their vehicle is involved in a collision resulting in injury — regardless of fault. Failure to do so transforms what may begin as a traffic matter into a criminal one, as this case illustrates.