Rocky Point man drove drunk, crashed into motorcycle, cops say

A 36-year-old Rocky Point man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after he crashed his vehicle into a motorcyclist Sunday in Mount Sinai, critically injuring the rider, police said.

The motorcyclist, Ronald Starke, 60, of Mount Sinai, was transported by Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition.

His injuries were not immediately known.

Suffolk County police said Starke was riding his 2003 Indian eastbound on North Country Road near Mountain Ridge Drive when his bike was struck by a 2002 Subaru Outback driven by Yokito Yoneyama at 3:55 p.m.

Yoneyama was transported to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, also by Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance, for treatment of minor injuries.

He was then arrested and charged with DWI, police said.

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Police said the investigation is continuing.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding the crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”