(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police have arrested a Babylon man for driving while intoxicated after his vehicle struck a telephone pole in Copiague on Tuesday, February 9.
Elmer Santos-Cardoza was driving a 1999 Dodge pickup truck eastbound on Sunrise Highway, east of Great Neck Road, at approximately 3 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a telephone pole. Upon impact, Santos-Cardoza, 24, of Babylon, and his two passengers, Melvin Mansonarez, 20, of Babylon, and Jose Santamaria, 20, of Babylon, were ejected from the vehicle.
Suffolk County Police have arrested Santos-Cardoza, 24, of Babylon for driving while intoxicated after his vehicle struck a telephone pole in Copiague on Tuesday, February 9. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.
After being ejected from the vehicle, Santamaria was struck by a 2008 Toyota Camry driven by a 42-year-old Levittown man. He was transported via Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.
Santos-Cardoza and Mansonarez were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where they are being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Santos-Cardoza was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated. He will be arraigned at a later date at First District Court in Central Islip.
The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with any information about this incident to contact the Vehicular Crime Unit at 631-852-6555.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
