Within just 24 hours, the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) sent officers to illegal street takeover incidents in Patchogue, Shirley, Sound Beach, and Miller Place.
Residents are speaking out about the rise in illegal street takeovers in their neighborhoods. Conversations are all over Facebook and Twitter (X) complaining about the dangerous activity.
Everything from drift racing, intersection spinouts, and street takeovers occur regularly around Suffolk County. Large crowds can gather setting off fireworks in what they may call a ‘festive’ atmosphere, but it is far from festive and can be incredibly dangerous and even deadly.
Drivers participating in these drift racing and spinning activities do not have full control over their vehicle no matter how powerful they may feel in the moment. Other drivers and spectators on the ground are in jeopardy and are seriously injured when the cars spin out of control.
Suffolk County Police Department said they “recently responded to a car meet that began at Gateway Plaza, located on Sunrise Highway in Patchogue at approximately 1:15 a.m. While police were dispersing the area, one motorist drove recklessly, fleeing the area at a high rate of speed. Danya Northington, 19, of Roosevelt, was located a short time later and charged with Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle 3rd Degree and Reckless Endangerment.”
Additionally, “A female, 19, who was watching the car meet in the parking lot, was struck by a vehicle doing donuts that fled the scene at approximately 1:15 a.m. She was self-transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police were contacted about the crash at approximately 3:30 a.m. and Fifth Squad detectives are investigating.”
SCPD spokesman said, “A short time later, police were called to William Floyd Parkway in Shirley and Route 25 A in Sound Beach and Miller Place for vehicles in roadway obstructing traffic. Police dispersed the vehicles. A 2023 Dodge was impounded in Shirley after the vehicle stalled and the driver fled on foot.” SCPD reports that it is unclear if the incidents were connected and the investigation is ongoing.
SCPD said, “Our stats department cannot capture the number of incidents/arrests that happened this year related to this since it will be grouped in with all reckless driving incidents.”
There are reports of several hundred accidents along Route 25A between Oakland Miller Place and Oakland Avenue, but SCPD says they have no way of knowing how many are due to this kind of illegal car drifting and racing behavior and how many are regular accidents. They do not separate the data into accident types.
If you come across a drift racing or intersection takeover incident happening, call 911 and move to safety.