Police: Impaired driving charge after serious crash in Mount Sinai

An unlicensed driver involved in a crash late Thursday in Mount Sinai that left him and two others in another car injured — one of them seriously — was arrested and charged with impaired driving, police said.

Erik Westerlund, 33, of Deer Park, faces charges of driving while ability impaired by drugs and third-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle after the accident at about 11:15 p.m. on Echo Avenue at Route 25A, Suffolk County police said Friday in a news release.

John Barbera, 18, of Port Jefferson Station, was driving a 2005 Hyundai eastbound on Route 25A when he tried to make a left onto Echo Avenue when his car was struck by a westbound 2006 Chrysler driven by Westerlund, police said.

Barbera was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital “for treatment of serious injuries, police said.

His passenger, Kuishon Glover, 18, of Sound Beach, was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries, police said.

Westerlund, who also was treated for minor injuries, faces arraignment Friday in Suffolk First District Court.

Both cars were impounded for safety checks. Detectives urge anyone with information about the crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

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.”