Police cruiser intercepts woman allegedly driving recklessly in area of Riverhead festival

Police intercepted a Riverhead woman who was allegedly driving recklessly in an area reserved for pedestrians gathered for Riverhead's annual Polish festival Sunday.

Blanca Jimenez-Tapia, 34, was charged with reckless endangerment and multiple vehicle and traffic law offenses after police said they spotted her speeding in an area closed to vehicular traffic near the festival site about 10:30 a.m. A marked police vehicle intercepted and collided with the woman's car, Riverhead police said.

No pedestrians or festivalgoers were injured, but police said an officer was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center, treated and released.

Jimenez-Tapia was arrested and taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, police said. Police said she was issued a desk appearance ticket and will be arraigned at a later date.

It was not immediately clear Monday if Jimenez-Tapia is represented by counsel.

Riverhead police said the incident began when a police traffic control officer assigned to the festival spotted Jimenez-Tapia driving a Hyundai sedan "erratically," striking a parked vehicle on Sweezy Avenue at 10:26 a.m. Sunday and then attempting to flee.

As the officer approached the Hyundai, Jimenez-Tapia struck a second vehicle, then fled the area at a high rate of speed, heading north on Osborne Avenue in the direction of the festival, police said.

Officers spotted the Hyundai headed toward an area closed to vehicular traffic for festivalgoers, police said. Jimenez-Tapia allegedly drove around marked police vehicles, officers and traffic-control devices that were blocking the roadway.

Seeing that the Hyundai failed to stop, police said an officer in a marked patrol unit "took action to intercept" the car due to the threat it posed to festivalgoers. At that time, Jimenez-Tapia crashed into the cruiser, which left her Hyundai disabled, police said.

The Polish Town Fair and Festival is an annual event hosted in the historic Polish Town neighborhood in Riverhead. Held Saturday and Sunday on the fairgrounds on Lincoln Street, it features traditional food, live polka music, cultural events, folk dancing, more than 100 vendors selling crafts and food, and a pierogi-eating contest.

Polish Town Civic Association president Tomasz Andzejewski said he was assured by police the festival was not targeted. He also expressed gratitude for the quick action by officers to stop the driver and avert a potential tragedy.

"It was just an unfortunate accident that happened near the fair," Andzejewski said. "But, thanks to Riverhead’s finest everybody was safe, secure and that was no major damage or injuries. It could have ended up really, really bad … We’re very, very grateful for that and what our police officers do.”

Police ask anyone with information regarding the incident to call them at 631-727-4500.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.