Cops: Felony DWI charge in hit-run

A Bay Shore man faces a felony drunken driving charge after he hit another car from behind on the Northern State Parkway in Albertson Tuesday and then sped away, State Police said.

Julio Velasquez, 30, is charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle -- both felonies -- and leaving the scene of an accident, police said.

The drunken driving charge is a felony because Velasquez has a previous conviction in the last 10 years, police said.

His arraignment information was not immediately available.

Troopers said Velasquez was driving a gray Mercedes at a high rate of speed east on the parkway near I.U. Willets Road when he hit another car, a blue Subaru, from behind at about 4:30 p.m.

The Subaru then hit a white Nissan, which rolled over several times, according to a news release.

The drivers of each car were taken to Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, according to a State Police spokesman who did not have details on their injuries.

The release said Velasquez was later identified and stopped by troopers with the help of a witness.