Police: Levittown driver impaired by drugs

A Levittown man who police say admitted to putting water into the gas tank of his car on Wednesday faces impaired-driving charges, State Police said.

Troopers saw Salvatore Ostraco, 51, using a portable container to fill the gas tank of his black Oldsmobile at about 6:20 p.m. on the Northern State Parkway near Exit 31A, the Meadowbrook State Parkway, in Westbury, police said in a news release.

While interviewing Ostraco troopers believed him to be intoxicated, the release said. Police also said Ostraco told them he put water into the tank of the vehicle.

Ostraco failed sobriety tests and was arrested, the release said.

Troopers then searched his car and found hypodermic needles, prescription medication not in its original container and an illegal knife, police said.

Ostraco is charged with driving while his ability was impaired by drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, possession of hypodermic needles and possession of a controlled substance not in its original container.

His arraignment information in First District Court in Hempstead was not immediately available.