Essential worker stranded in vehicle for four hours
Luke Gregory, 40, left his home in Centereach at 4:30 a.m. to reach his job as an essential worker in Patchogue, where he was scheduled to begin at 5:30 a.m.
He traveled about 6 miles before the conditions overwhelmed his Nissan Rogue and he became stranded in the southbound portion of County Road 97 near Portion Road. He called 911 but said he was told visibility was too poor for first responders to reach him.
“It’s ridiculous out here,” he told Newsday in a Facebook message Monday morning.
Gregory remained stranded for about four hours before a friend was able to reach him.
“Plows looked like they never touched the roads but that’s how aggressive the storm was,” he wrote.
He said he had no choice but to leave his SUV behind as the snow continued to fall.
Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
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