Two charged with drunken driving after collision seriously injured passengers

Bail was set at $5,000 cash or bond Sunday for an Oceanside man charged with drunken driving after crashing his vehicle into another intoxicated driver's car in Rockville Centre early Saturday, police said.

Neither driver was hurt but two passengers in the woman's vehicle were seriously injured, police said.

The drivers were identified as Peter Serra, 34, of Balsam St., and Melody E. Thompson, 38, of West Merrick Rd., Valley Stream. Both were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead and charged with driving while intoxicated. Thompson was released on her own recognizance. Serra, who is also charged with first degree vehicular assault and reckless driving, was being held in the Nassau County jail.

According to a police report, the crash occurred at 4:55 a.m. on Merrick Road near Sunrise Highway. Serra was driving his 2012 Volkswagen sport utility vehicle west in the eastbound lane of Merrick Road 100 yards west of Windsor Avenue when he struck Thompson's 2011 Toyota as she traveled east.

Police said there was a 30-year-old woman in the front passenger seat of Thompson's car who was in critical condition after suffering multiple leg fractures and head trauma. A 29-year-old woman who was a passenger in the backseat was in serious condition after suffering a left arm fracture and head trauma.

Both victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their names and where they live were not made available Sunday morning.

Both cars were impounded.