Family grateful Nick Costi, whose windshield was smashed by pumpkin last Sunday, was not hurt
Suffolk County Police seek the public’s help to identify and locate whoever threw a pumpkin into the windshield of a 2009 Ford Fusion in Hauppauge on Sunday. Credit: SCPD/PIO,
The family of 22-year-old Nick Costi is thankful he wasn’t injured after a pumpkin hurled from a moving car crash-landed on his windshield, although they would like the person or persons responsible caught.
Nick Costi was driving west on Town Line Road near MacArthur Boulevard in Hauppauge around 2:50 a.m. Oct. 30 when a gourd went flying from the opposite lane, shattering the windshield of his 2009 Ford Fusion, Suffolk County Police said.
Costi was driving with his girlfriend at the time, according to the Nick Costi’s father, Chris Costi, of Hauppauge.
“He is OK but he could’ve gotten killed,” said Chris Costi, who went to scene shortly after his son called with the news. Nick Costi declined to speak about the incident on Saturday.
The pumpkin did not break through the windshield though it left a beach-ball sized dent on the driver’s side, Chris Costi said. Police released photos of the damage.
Police are looking for video of the incident, Chris Costi said, and he hopes the pumpkin thrower or throwers are found.
“I’m very upset … It’s obviously a prank that went bad. They’re probably young adults or teenagers and an apology would be nice,” Chris Costi said.
The incident is eerily reminiscent of a 2005 prank that nearly took a woman’s life. In that case, Ryan Cushing chucked a 20 pound frozen turkey from a car traveling on Portion Road in Ronkonkoma.
The turkey crashed through the windshield, bent the steering wheel and crushed every bone in the face of driver Victoria Ruvolo. In a highly publicized court hearing, Ruvolo forgave Cushing, who was then 18, and he was sentenced to six months in jail and community service after pleading guilty.
Police ask anyone with information about the Oct. 30 incident to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.
Tipsters can also submit information via a mobile app by searching P3 Tips or by going online at www.P3Tips.com. Information that leads to an arrest is eligible for a cash reward. All calls, texts and emails are confidential, police said.
Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.
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