LI crime briefs

FLANDERS

Driver allegedly runs over

three after leaving party

A Riverhead woman was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after hitting three people with her vehicle early yesterday outside a Flanders home, police said.

Southampton Town police said Amanda Dacosta, 23, was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury. She pleaded not guilty at arraignment yesterday at Southampton Town Justice Court.

Det. Sgt. Lisa Costa said Dacosta was at a party at a home on Riverside Avenue and got into an argument; when she left, at about 12:08 a.m., she drove over a fence, hit the three people and continued into the front of the home.

Dacosta's attorney, Colin Astarita of Southampton, did not immediately call back late yesterday afternoon.

Costa said one of the victims, a man, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital. He was awaiting test results, she said, and was complaining of general pain.

Another victim, a woman, 25, was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, where she was treated for a leg injury and released.

The third victim, a woman, 26, refused medical attention at the scene.

MALVERNE

Cops: Drunk driver blames passenger for crash

A motorist who drove drunk and crashed his car on the Southern State Parkway told troopers that he wasn't the driver and blamed his passenger instead, State Police said yesterday.

Rayshaun Dingle's Mercedes crashed just after 4:45 a.m. Tuesday into a guardrail near Exit 17, Hempstead Avenue, in Malverne, but by the time troopers arrived, the car's two occupants were standing outside, State Police spokesman Frank Bandiero said.

Dingle, 22, of Valley Stream, told troopers he was the passenger and that the other person was the driver, Bandiero said.

When the car's other occupant also said he was the passenger, troopers determined that Dingle had lied, police said.

A strong odor of alcohol emanated from Dingle's breath, and he eventually admitted to troopers that he'd been at the wheel, police said.

Dingle complained of pain and was treated at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre and released, police said.

He was charged with driving while intoxicated, obstructing governmental administration and other traffic violations. He was given an appearance ticket for Jan. 31 at Nassau County First District Court in Hempstead.