What Happened
A Clifton police officer was hospitalized with a head injury early Sunday after a driver suspected of DWI traveling north on Route 21 struck a patrol vehicle near River Road, igniting both cars, according to News 12 Long Island. The crash was reported around 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Officers were already on Route 21 North near River Road at that hour, investigating a separate earlier crash, when the northbound vehicle struck one of the patrol cars. The impact set both the suspect’s vehicle and the patrol car on fire. A second Clifton police vehicle at the scene sustained severe damage.
One officer was transported to a hospital with a head injury. Police said that injury was not expected to be life-threatening. A second officer avoided being hit altogether by jumping out of the path of the oncoming vehicle before impact, News 12 Long Island reported.
The driver was not seriously injured. Clifton police took the driver into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated following the collision, according to News 12 Long Island. No charges had been formally specified in reporting filed as of 10:04 a.m. Sunday.
Location & Road Context
Route 21 North near River Road in Clifton is an active arterial corridor. Officers responding to nighttime crashes on this stretch operate in a live-traffic environment where secondary strikes are a documented hazard on multi-lane state routes.
For current road conditions on Route 21 and surrounding roads, see the Long Island Traffic roads index.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Clifton police confirmed the driver was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. No formal charge designations, arraignment date, or bail figure had been released as of the 10:04 a.m. News 12 report filed Sunday morning. The status of the earlier crash that first drew officers to the scene was not specified in available reports.
Broader Impact
A DWI conviction in New York for a first offense under VTL § 1192.2 (BAC 0.08 or higher) carries a minimum one-year license revocation, a fine up to $1,000, and up to one year in jail. Striking an occupied emergency vehicle while officers are actively working a scene can support aggravated charges under New York law, though no specific charge tier had been confirmed by Clifton police as of Sunday morning.