ISLIP, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — Police responded to a Long Island service road early Sunday morning to address reports of a group of cars blocking traffic, but a chaotic scene broke out when multiple alleged street racers attempted to flee, resulting in multiple collisions.
An officer with Suffolk County Police’s Third Precinct was driving westbound on Sunrise Service Road, near Commack Road in Islip, at about 1 a.m. when he attempted to avoid a person in the roadway and struck a pole.
The officer then exited his vehicle and tried to stop a Mustang that police said “was recklessly driving in circles” at the same intersection.
The Mustang fled, and while the officer was out of his vehicle, at least three of his tires were slashed.
Officials said that the Mustang was then involved in a crash with another vehicle at Commack Road and Wallace Street. The Mustang driver ran from the scene on foot.
The Mustang caught on fire after the crash, and police said that the driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
A second officer from the same precinct was also responding to the scene when he crashed into a pole on eastbound Sunrise Service Road, east of Griffing Street, police said.
Two other motorists attempted to flee the scene and struck fixed objects in two final crashes.
One vehicle struck a pole on West Pine Street and Waitman Avenue in Islip and the driver fled on foot. The other struck a tree on westbound Sunrise Service Road, near Pond Road in Bohemia, and was issued multiple traffic summonses.
Both officers involved in crashes were treated and released from an area hospital.