Cops: Uniondale man faces DWI charges after 3 crashes in less than an hour
A Uniondale man faces multiple charges after causing a chain-reaction crash that damaged a marked police cruiser in Merrick — the third crash involving the driver in less than an hour, Nassau County police said.
Ainsley Bennett, 65, of Terrace Place, was taken into custody by police Tuesday as he attempted to flee the third crash scene, only to be stopped by an officer on foot, police said.
The officer, whose identity was not released, suffered an ankle injury and was treated at a hospital, police said.
Bennett was charged with driving while intoxicated, second-degree assault and three counts of leaving the scene of an accident. His arraignment in Mineola Wednesday was continued until July 15, according to court records.
The marked Nassau police cruiser was on routine patrol, police said, when Bennett crashed into a line of vehicles on Merrick Road just before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, causing a four-car, chain-reaction crash that ended with one of those vehicles striking the patrol car.
Police said that when the patrol officer exited his cruiser to check on the other drivers, Bennett attempted to flee the scene in his gray 2010 Toyota.
The officer gave chase on foot, managing to stop car but injuring his ankle in the process.
The subsequent investigation not only determined Bennett was drunk, but also that he had previously been involved in two other accidents in Merrick, police said.
One of those crashes happened on Sunrise Highway, police said, the other near the intersection of Central Parkway and Merrick Road.
No one was injured in either of those crashes. However, police said, Seventh Squad detectives determined Bennett fled both scenes before causing the chain-reaction crash that damaged the patrol car.
It was not immediately clear if Bennett is represented by counsel.
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.”
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