16-year-old charged with fleeing scene of fatal crash that killed Marion Napolitano, 73, in Centereach Saturday
The car driven by a 73-year-old woman who was killed after police said a teen crashed into her on Middle Country Road in Centereach. Credit: Neil Miller
A 16-year-old was arrested on Saturday night while fleeing the scene of a fatal crash in Centereach and faces charges of driving while impaired by drugs, Suffolk County police said.
The teen, whose identity was not released by police due to his age, attempted to flee on foot from a stolen 2008 Land-Rover LR2 after crashing into the rear of a sedan driven by a 73-year-old woman shortly after 9 p.m., according to a police news release.
The woman, identified Monday as Marion Napolitano, 73, who was homeless, was driving east on Middle Country Road near the Dawn Drive intersection when her vehicle was struck, police said. She was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. A 50-year-old passenger in the woman’s vehicle is being treated at the same hospital for serious injuries, according to the release.
The teen, who was not injured, was stopped by an off-duty Suffolk police officer as he attempted to run from the scene. He was charged with first-degree driving while ability impaired by drugs, leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, police said.
The teen was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and was to be arraigned in the Youth Part of First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday.
Sean Dixon, an attorney representing the teen, said on Monday he will challenge the allegation against his client.
“While we have no intention to dismiss the seriousness of these allegations, at this preliminary stage, my client has entered a plea of not guilty to all counts and maintains his innocence," Dixon said. "More significantly, there is no scientific evidence that supports that my client was impaired by alcohol or any narcotic while he was allegedly operating a motor vehicle at the time of this alleged incident and categorically denies fleeing from the scene of any accident.”
Suffolk Major Case Squad detectives ask anyone with information on the crash to call 631-852-6555.
Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.
