A woman was seriously injured in Hauppauge after being thrown forward inside a handicapped-accessible minivan where she was not restrained or buckled into her wheelchair, according to Suffolk County police.
The crash occurred on Veterans Memorial Highway near Raoul Wallenberg Drive.
Police said a 2020 Toyota Sienna minivan, modified for wheelchair access and lacking a front passenger seat and center console, was traveling eastbound in the right lane when the driver, Judith Weisman, stopped suddenly.
Marybeth Weisman, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle in a wheelchair, was not restrained. Investigators said she lunged forward during the abrupt stop and struck her head on the dashboard, rendering her unconscious.
After the impact, Judith Weisman turned right onto Raoul Wallenberg Drive in an attempt to pull over. During the maneuver, the minivan sideswiped a southbound 2008 Honda Accord driven by Tiphanna Olivia-Jimenez.
Both vehicles came to rest in the left lane of Raoul Wallenberg Drive. Police said the two drivers immediately began performing CPR on Marybeth Weisman until first responders arrived and were able to restore her pulse.
Marybeth Weisman was transported by the Central Islip-Hauppauge Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was listed in serious condition.
Judith Weisman, 75, of Smithtown, and Olivia-Jimenez, 29, of Farmingdale, were not injured in the crash.
Detectives emphasized that the woman’s injuries were directly related to the fact that she was not secured inside the vehicle. Properly restraining wheelchairs and passengers in accessible vehicles is critical to preventing severe injuries during sudden stops or collisions.
Both vehicles were impounded for a safety inspection as the investigation continues. Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are asking anyone with additional information to contact the department.