Cops: Driver in custody crashed into funeral home

Hempstead police have a driver in custody whose blood was being checked for alcohol after he allegedly struck four cars before slamming his pickup truck into a funeral home Monday evening, police said.

Four people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after the 5:15 p.m. accident, which ended with the pickup backing into the front of the I.J. Morris Funeral Home, 46 Greenwich St., said Hempstead Police Lt. James Hayman.

The driver of the pickup truck, who police have not identified, rear-ended another driver which created a chain-reaction, and resulted in that car hitting the vehicle in front of it, Hayman said. The driver of the pickup then reversed and struck yet another vehicle, before reversing into the funeral home at an unknown rate of speed, Hayman said.

No one at the funeral home was injured, Hayman said. Those transported to the hospital were involved in the crash, he said.

Funeral home officials could not be reached for comment Monday night.

Hayman said the driver of the pickup was in police custody Monday night. He had facial injuries and his blood was being tested in a hospital for the presence of alcohol, Hayman said.