LI BRIEFS

NORTH VALLEY STREAM/One killed in crash on Southern State

At least one person was killed in an early morning crash yesterday on the Southern State Parkway in North Valley Stream, state police said.

The single-car crash involved a white sedan carrying four occupants. Three of them were placed into ambulances at the scene, according to an observer.

Eastbound traffic lanes near Exit 14 at Fletcher Avenue were closed at about 6:45 a.m. yesterday as authorities and emergency medical teams responded to the crash site, according to reports. The roadway had completely reopened by about 11:20 a.m., police said.

No other information was available yesterday, state police said.

- Patrick Whittle and Laura Rivera

NORTH MASSAPEQUA/Man accused of assault in stabbing

A Copiague man was charged with assault after police said he stabbed someone in a fight Saturday outside a house party in North Massapequa.

Nassau police said that at about 10:30 p.m., Dieon L. Harris, 21, swung a 3.5-inch blade at a 27-year-old male on North Nassau Avenue, wounding him in the upper torso.

The victim, who was not identified, was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he was treated and released, officials said.

The violence stemmed from an argument at a house party that Harris was asked to leave, authorities said.

Harris was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and misdemeanor weapons possession, according to a Nassau police news release. He was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday at First District Court in Hempstead.

- Laura Rivera

BALDWIN/Man sought in shooting outside club

Nassau police are asking the public to help find a suspect who allegedly shot and injured a 21-year-old man outside a Baldwin nightclub yesterday morning.

The man, whom police did not identify, was shot once and the bullet struck him in his right hand and hip, police said. He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow and was in stable condition, police said.

The shooting happened in front of Legends Lounge at 1299 Grand Ave., police said.

Police ask anyone with information to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous. - Chau Lam

FREEPORT/11 forced from homes by fire

Eleven people lost their homes when a multifamily dwelling in Freeport burned down early yesterday morning, Red Cross officials said.

The Archer Street residence, which was home to four families, burned from about 3:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. yesterday, said Sal Montoro, a Nassau Red Cross volunteer.

The blaze appeared to start from an electrical fire that started in the attic of the building, Montoro said. No one appeared seriously injured, Red Cross officials said.

Attempts to reach Freeport Fire Department officials yesterday were not successful.

The Red Cross provided five of the 11 residents with motel rooms, said Sam Kille, director of public relations for the Nassau Red Cross. Four other residents were able to get lodging through their insurance and two others are staying with family, Kille said.

- Patrick Whittle

PATCHOGUE/Drunken driving charges for LI man in fatal motorcycle crash

New Jersey State Police have charged a Patchogue man with drunken driving after a motorcycle crash early Sunday left a Pennsylvania woman dead and her companion in critical condition.

Sgt. Stephen Jones, a state police spokesman, said Nicole Widener, 45, and Paul Shelley, 56, both of Stewartsville, Pa., were riding on a motorcycle around 1:15 a.m. on Route 78 in Bedminster, Somerset County.

Jones said Shelley was driving the motorcycle in the center lane when Maurice Smith, 36, of Patchogue, passed them at high speed and Smith's motorcycle made contact with the right rear of Shelley's motorcycle.

Widener was thrown from the motorcycle, struck by a car and killed, Jones said. The car left the scene and had not been found by late Sunday night, he said. Shelley ended up on the side of the road, he said, and was taken to a hospital, where he was in critical condition Sunday night. Smith was treated at the hospital for lacerations before being taken into custody, Jones said. The investigation continues, he said, and further charges against Smith are possible.

- Will Van Sant