Southern State Parkway crash injures police officer, officials say
The damaged troop car is shown at the scene on the Southern State. Credit: New York State Police
The New York State Police are investigating a Sunday morning crash on the Southern State Parkway that injured a state police officer who was on the scene responding to a separate collision.
State troopers were at the crash near exit 14 of the eastbound parkway in North Valley Stream when the driver of a Jeep Wrangler struck the back of a parked state police car at around 5:47 a.m., causing significant damage to the back of the vehicle, according to the department.
The crash pushed the police vehicle from the right lane to the center and left lanes, and the Jeep was sent off the roadway and onto the right shoulder, police said.
A state police trooper who was sitting in the vehicle and the driver of the Jeep were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, according to state police.
Brittany Burton, a spokesperson for the New York State Police, said the department's investigation is ongoing.
"However, based on preliminary findings, it appears that driver distraction is a contributing factor," Burton said in an email.
The driver who struck the police car has not been charged, Burton told Newsday.
All eastbound traffic was rerouted at Exit 13 for Central Avenue in Valley Stream. Following an investigation, the roadway was reopened by 9 a.m.
Newsday's Tracy Tullis contributed to this story.
More coverage: Every 7 minutes on average a traffic crash causing death, injury or significant property damage happens on Long Island. A Newsday investigation found that traffic crashes killed more than 2,100 people between 2014 and 2023 and seriously injured more than 16,000 people. To search for fatal crashes in your area, click here.
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