Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Nassau Cop Injured in Southern State Crash

The officer remains in serious condition.

A Nassau County police officer remains in serious but stable condition on Tuesday evening after chasing a suspicious vehicle on the Southern State Parkway Monday Afternoon, police said.

The officer, a 19 year veteran from the 7th Precinct who wasn't identified, was pursuing a gray Honda Accord fleeing North Massapequa at about 12:30 p.m.

Homeowners in the area of North Pine Street and South Park Drive called 911 after seeing the car in the neighborhood where there have been 10 to 14 burglaries in the last month, according to Nassau Police Det. Lt. Kevin Smith.

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"One of the witnesses actually saw the two occupants switch license plates, we believe from Pennsylvania plates to Florida plates," Smith said.

The officer followed the vehicle to Linden Street and onto the eastbound side of the Southern Parkway at the Bethpage State Parkway entrance.

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Witnesses told police that the suspicious car took dangerous maneuvers and was traveling at a high rate of speed as it headed east towards Route 110.

The car, which witnesses said had been speeding, switched lanes several times in an effort to shake the officer.

Then it slowed down suddenly. "They really pounded on the brakes, almost coming to a complete stop," Smith said.

The officer tried to avoid hitting the car from behind and swerved to the right, hitting a guard rail.

It "propelled the police car back into traffic where it was struck by another car," Smith said.

The officer's car came to a rest under the Route 110 overpass of the Parkway. She was quickly airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center, where she was listed in serious but stable condition.

Miraculously, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle were not hurt.

The injured officer was in intensive care with head, neck and shoulder injuries and was in and out of consciousness, Smith said.

Police did not immediately release a description of the Accord's driver and passenger, but they did release photos of the car taken by an area home owner.

The Southern State was closed because of the accident investigation.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.