Three hurt when car crashes, flips into Williston Park sump, officials say

A passenger in an SUV that hit a pole, flipped and landed Friday night in a Williston Park sump suffered serious injuries in the crash, authorities said.

The rear of the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero ended up partially submerged in the water and partway on an embankment in the sump on Willis Avenue and Center Street, said Williston Park Fire Chief John Perro Jr. 

Nassau County police said the three occupants were taken to a hospital after the 10:40 p.m. crash. The driver and one passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries, in addition to the seriously injured passenger.

Dozens of first responders arrived at the scene to rescue the occupants. 

"The biggest challenge was getting down into the sump," Perro said. "The vehicle was down in the water, and two of the passengers were still in the vehicle." 

One was conscious and one was unconscious, and both were trapped, the chief said. The third man was already outside the SUV, he said.

Rescuers from the local fire department, Nassau County police, Nassau emergency ambulance bureau and Mineola firefighters launched a heavy-rescue mission, Perro said. They attached chains to the vehicle to secure it to a tree and a post, he said. Mineola firefighters set up lights at the scene, the chief said, and rescuers transported victims in a basket stretcher out of the sump.

Within five minutes, Williston Park firefighters and others had extricated the two occupants, Perro said: "We got them out pretty quick. I thought it was a great, coordinated effort between all the units on scene."

Police did not have an update on the occupants' conditions or their identities on Saturday morning.