Man driving drunk crashed into 7-Eleven, police say

A Central Islip man was charged with driving drunk after he crashed his minivan into the front of a 7-Eleven in the hamlet early Sunday morning and fled the scene, Suffolk County police said.

No one was injured.

Police said the crash happened shortly after 1:15 a.m. when Ronald Rivera, 23, of Beech Street, parked the 2002 Toyota minivan he was driving in front of a 7-Eleven on Carleton Avenue and accidentally put the vehicle into drive.

Rivera fled the scene on foot but was apprehended nearby a short time later by Third Precinct patrol officers, police said.

Rivera was charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. He was also issued a summons for driving without a license and was scheduled for arraignment Sunday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Police said the front windows of the store were broken but a Town of Islip building inspector determined there was no structural damage to the building.