SUV driver high on drugs crashes into man loading postal van in Merrick, police say

An allegedly high-on-drugs driver crashed into a man loading a postal van in Merrick on Friday morning, according to authorities in Nassau County, where the driver was arrested.

The driver, Jeffrey Butt, 45, of Freeport, was later charged with several crimes, including driving while ability impaired, vehicular assault, reckless driving and drug possession, the police department wrote in a news release.

He had cocaine and oxycodone pills in his possession, which he allegedly handed over to a detective at the hospital that afternoon, according to a felony complaint against Butt.

The crash happened on Merrick Road near Merrick Avenue. Butt was driving a 2025 black Chevrolet SUV east on the road when he crossed onto the right-hand shoulder and struck the victim, 50 years old, as well as the vehicle, the authorities allege.

The man sustained spinal fractures, leg injuries, including femur fractures, and blood loss, the complaint says. He was brought to Nassau University Medical Center, the document says, and was in stable condition, the release says. Butt was also treated there for minor injuries. 

At the time the police encountered him at the crash scene, Butt allegedly "had glassy, constricted pupils," and an officer saw a "white powder substance, plastic straw, and metal spoon" on the driver's side, according to the complaint, signed by Officer Ryan P. Mcnamee. 

Butt was arraigned on Saturday morning at First District Court in Hempstead with bail set at $200,000, according to Nicole Turso, a spokeswoman for the county district attorney. It wasn't clear whether bail had been posted.

The case is due back in court Oct. 15. Butt was represented by the Legal Aid Society, which doesn't comment on its cases.

A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office from 2013 said there were 32,213 annual reported injuries of postal employees, including from dog bites and vehicle crashes.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.