Driver, 80, arrested after hit-run leaves two homeless people seriously injured, say cops

An East Meadow man was arrested Sunday night after a hit-and-run accident on Hempstead Turnpike that seriously injured two homeless people, Nassau County police said.

Oliver Blakeman, 80, of 1689 Front St., was driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan westbound on the turnpike in East Meadow shortly after 7 p.m. when he struck the man and woman, who were crossing the road, headed toward Eisenhower Park, police said Monday.

Blakeman fled, police said, but officers found him and his minivan near Merrick Avenue and Webster Street, where he was arrested. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury and was released on an appearance ticket, police said.

He is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said the victims, who were not identified, suffered "multiple trauma injuries" and were hospitalized in serious condition. Additional details were not available Monday.

The minivan was impounded for brake and safety checks.

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.”