Police: Drunk Driver Hits Cop Car at Accident Scene
An intoxicated driver drove past flares and a police officer directing traffic at an accident scene in Northampton before she crashed into a cop car on Saturday, according to Southampton Town police.
Police said they, Flanders-Northampton Volunteer Ambulance and Riverhead Fire Department responded to a single-car crash on County Road 51 between Old Moriches Road and Speonk Riverhead Road at 1:47 a.m. The 38-year-old driver, from Manorville, was driving a 2005 Toyota Prius south when he lost control of the vehicle, sideswiped the guardrail in the southbound lane, crossed over the median and the northbound lane, and crashed into a tree, according to authorities. The vehicle was discovered lying on its side with its roof crushed, leaning against a tree.
The victim was extricated from the vehicle then airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital by a Suffolk County police medevac helecopter.
Police closed the roadway and began an investigation with the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. It was at about 3:30 a.m. when a driver in a 2005 Honda Civic headed north drove through road flares, according to police. The driver then passed a police officer and hit an unoccupied cop car, authorities said.
The driver, 23-year-old Lisa A. Rizzo, of Cutchogue, was placed under arrest and charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. Rizzo was taken to a hospital for minor injuries sustained in the accident.
The Civic and cop car were significantly damaged and had to be towed.
County Road 51 reopened at 7 a.m.