Man rescued from burning car in Tuckahoe charged with drunken driving, police say

A driver rescued from a burning car by a quick-thinking police officer early Saturday in Tuckahoe was later arrested and charged with felony drunken driving, Southampton Town police said.

Police said Edmundo Soledad-Reyes, 21, of Hampton Bays, rolled his car over on North Sea Road near Raynor Road at midnight Friday, finding himself trapped as the car ignited.

He was rescued from the car by Southampton Officer Eric Breitweiser, who police said climbed into the burning sedan, cut the seat belt and freed Soledad-Reyes.

"P.O. Breitweiser's quick reaction saved the driver from being burned within the vehicle," a police statement says.

Soledad-Reyes was treated at Southampton Hospital.

He was then arrested and charged with felony driving while intoxicated, operating without a license and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle -- because of a prior DWI charge. He was held for arraignment on $2,500 bail.

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.”