Deer Park teen seriously hurt after falling from moving Jeep, police say

A 17-year-old from Deer Park was seriously injured Sunday evening when police said he fell off a moving vehicle, striking his head on the pavement.

Suffolk County police said the teen was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said he was "standing on the running board, while holding on to the roof rack" of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven by his friend southbound on West 4th Street, between Grand Boulevard and Park Avenue in Deer Park, when he fell off the Jeep at about 8:30 p.m.

The 17-year-old driver of the vehicle was not injured, police said. Police said the Jeep was impounded for a safety check.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call First Squad detectives at 631-854-8152. All calls will remain confidential.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”