Two Days, Two Drunk Driving Accidents on Long Island–Will This Madness Stop?

Two days, two nearly identical headlines on Long Island–a drunk driver speeding the wrong way down a major highway in the dark hours of the early morning crashes into the car of an innocent victim. What could be scarier than driving to work and seeing headlights speeding straight at you? When are people going to take the dangers of drinking and driving seriously and stop risking the lives of the many innocent fathers, mothers, and children whose only mistake is being in the path of the out-of-control car?

The first crash, which occurred at approximately 5:00 am on the Northern State Parkway, killed 35-year-old NYPD officer Andre Menzies, who was also a loving husband and the father of five children ranging in age from 7 to 15. Michael Bowen, who was charged with driving while intoxicated, suffered only minor injuries and was taken into custody.

Nearly 24 hours later, a series of frantic calls were made to 911 from drivers on the Long Island Expressway who noticed a car going west in the eastbound lanes. Katelyn O’Connell of Westbury crashed into an unidentified 27-year-old father of three from Queens. Luckily neither driver in this accident suffered life-threatening injuries.

Both these accidents come on the heels of another suspected drunken-driving accident in which a 17-year-old girl was struck by an out-of-control pickup. We are outraged that these accidents continue to happen. A driver who drinks and drives chooses to put every other driver and passenger on the road at serious risk of injury or death. At Goldstein and Bashner, we are experienced in handling drunk driving cases and have been successful in getting large claims for our clients. We will do what it takes to get our clients the compensation they deserve, whether it means battling insurance companies or going after other parties that might also be responsible, including a bar or restaurant where the drunk driver may have been served alcohol. If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, contact our offices for a free consultation.