An alleged drunken driver heading the wrong way on the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway crashed into another vehicle in Bethpage before he was arrested this weekend, Nassau County police said.
John Derrico was driving his vehicle southbound in the northbound lanes of Route 135 when he collided with a northbound Volvo near exit 8, Powell Avenue, and then hit the median shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, police said.
A Highway Patrol officer responded and pulled the 51-year-old Plainview man from the vehicle, which had flames coming from beneath the hood, and found him to be under the influence of alcohol, police said.
Derrico was taken into custody and to a local hospital for medical evaluation. The 29-year-old man driving the Volvo was not hurt.
Derrico was charged with reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and driving the wrong direction on a one way street. He will be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.
