Police: Man with learner permit ran red light in Copiague crash

A man driving with only a learner permit, his passenger and the driver of another car all were hospitalized Wednesday night after Suffolk County police said the teen ran a red light on Montauk Highway in Copiague -- causing a three-car crash.

The accident occurred on Montauk Highway at South Strong Avenue at 10:44 p.m.

Police said the 18-year-old learner-permit holder was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and with failure to stop at a red light. It was not clear when he was due to appear in court.

Police did not release the identities of anyone involved in the crash, but said the learner-permit holder, his passenger and the 34-year-old female driver of the car he struck all were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip for treatment of minor injuries.

The 34-year-old woman was driving a 2008 Mitsubishi south on South Strong Avenue and was crossing Montauk on a green light, police said, when she was struck by the 2006 Nissan driven by learner-permit holder.

Police said the Mitsubishi then careened into a third vehicle, a 2002 Toyota. That driver was not injured, police said.

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.”