Cops: Sunrise Hwy. crash driver on drugs
Mug shot of Steven Kinalis released by the Suffolk County Police Department. Kinalis was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs after he was involved in a motor vehicle crash when he allegedly rear-ended a Dodge pickup truck with his Toyota Scion on Sunrise Highway, police said. Five people were in the truck driven by Kevin Gaffney, 36, of West Islip. Gaffney's 5-year-old son was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center and was in critical condition. (December 11, 2011) Credit: SCPD/
A Ronkonkoma man has been arrested for driving while on drugs Saturday in a car accident that left a 5-year-old boy critically injured, police said.
Steven Kinalis, 30, was impaired by drugs when he rear ended a Dodge pickup truck with his Toyota Scion on Sunrise Highway, police said. The impact pushed the truck off the road and into a tree, police said.
Five people were in the truck driven by Kevin Gaffney, 36, of West Islip. Gaffney's 5-year-old son was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center and was in critical condition.
Also in the truck were Gaffney's wife, daughter and 2-year-old son who were all treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the same hospital.
The crash happened at 9:43 a.m. near William Floyd Parkway. Eastbound Sunrise Highway was closed at the parkway, exit 58, for several hours and reopened at 2:20 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation website.
Police said Kinalis, who refused medical treatment, will be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Central Islip. A police spokeswoman said the drugs Kinalis allegedly took will be identified at arraignment.
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Get ready for sun and fun with NewsdayTV's summer FunBook special! From celebrating America's 250th birthday to a new ride at Adventureland, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your inside look at Newsday's summer FunBook.
