Cops: Driver charged in man's fall from hood

Nassau County police arrested and charged a Pennsylvania man with assault after they say he abruptly stopped his car while a friend was riding on his hood, causing the friend to suffer a serious head injury.

Noel Vasquez, 22, of Bushkill, Pa., is charged with second-degree assault, police said in a Monday news release. He was driving a 1998 Nissan Sentra in a parking lot of 1840 Front St. in East Meadow at about 11:45 p.m. Sunday when the incident occurred, police said.

As Vasquez drove, two of his friends were hanging onto the hood of the car, police said. When one of the friends jumped off, Vasquez stopped the car abruptly causing the other friend, 22, to lose his grip, police said.

The man fell off the car and hit his head on the pavement, police said. He was later taken to a hospital where he is being treated for a head injury. The other man was not injured.

Vasquez is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead Monday.