Drunken driver hurts two women in Selden hit-and-run crash, police say

 A 39-year-old Selden woman was arrested late Thursday and charged with drunken driving following a hit-and-run crash that pinned a woman between two vehicles, injuring two.

Suffolk County police said the crash occurred just after 10 p.m. on Boyle Road near Liberty Avenue in Selden.

Police said one victim, Nancy Mortello, 51, of Selden, suffered leg injuries when she was pinned between her 2012 Jeep Wrangler and a disabled 2015 Subaru driven by her son, Douglas Taveras, 28, of Selden.

The other victim, identified as Gabriella Giovinco, 26, of Selden, had been a passenger in the Subaru. Police said she suffered minor injuries.

Both women were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment, police said.

Police said the Subaru had broken down on Boyle, and Mortello drove there to help her son. Mortello, Taveras and Giovinco all were out of the vehicles when the Subaru was hit from behind by a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Shaunakaye Vazquez. Police said the Tahoe, which was headed north, struck the Subaru, which was stopped on the shoulder, causing it to collide with the Jeep in front of it — pinning Mortello between the two vehicles. Police said Vazquez then drove off.

Neither Vazquez nor a passenger in the Tahoe were hurt, police said.

The Tahoe was located a short time later, police said, and Vazquez was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident with serious injury.

Shaunakaye Vazquez had her case adjourned on Friday and was released, said her attorney, Mike Elbert of Melville. Elbert did not comment further.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652. 

With Keldy Ortiz

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.”