LI CRIME BRIEFS

BABYLON / Driver dies in parkway crash

The eastbound lanes of the Southern State Parkway were shut down for several hours about 3 a.m. Sunday after the driver of a Ford Taurus lost control of his car and crashed into a tree, police said.

The driver, who was alone in the car, was killed in the crash, which occurred just east of the Straight Path exit in Babylon, State Police said. They did not release his name because they were not certain that his family had been notified.

State Police were still investigating the cause of the crash.

-- ANN GIVENS

COPIAGUE / 2 shot while playing poker

An early-morning poker game ended with shotgun blasts that injured two men in Copiague, Suffolk police said.

Luis Tejada-Pena, 37, and Juan Marines, 43, both of North Amityville, were playing cards in a garage on Daly Place at 1:55 a.m. when two people wearing all black, including black hooded sweatshirts, approached, police said. When Tejada-Pena and Marines tried to hold the door closed, the intruders shot three times through the door, police said. The suspects then fled on foot, police said.

Tejada-Pena and Marines were treated for nonlife-threatening injuries at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, officials said.

Detectives ask that anyone with information call the First Squad at 631-854-8152 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

-- NICHOLAS SPANGLER

LIDO BEACH / Drugs found in stolen car

Three occupants of a stolen Infiniti led Nassau police on a high-speed chase in Lido Beach Saturday night, weaving in and out of traffic until they had to stop at an open drawbridge, police said. Officers found oxycodone in the car's console and marijuana and cocaine in an open bag, police said.

Fourth Squad detectives said driver Tariq Qazi, 25, of Elmhurst, accelerated to more than 100 mph after police tried to make a traffic stop in Lido Beach late Saturday night. Qazi drove east on Lido Boulevard, then ran a red light on Loop Parkway north, weaving in and out of traffic stopped for the bridge before crossing into the southbound lane, police said.

When Qazi stopped at the open bridge, police said, officers found the drugs and determined that the car had been reported stolen in Maryland. Qazi was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of stolen property, driving while impaired, reckless driving and other violations.

Malissa Chester, 22, of Jamaica, and Maher Fadl, 22, of Middle Village, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

-- NICHOLAS SPANGLER

NORTH AMITYVILLE / No injuries in house fire

An unoccupied home on Essen Drive in North Amityville was destroyed by fire about 1:40 a.m. Sunday, police with the Suffolk Arson Squad said. There were no injuries. The fire also damaged two adjoining houses.

-- ANN GIVENS