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FREEPORT, Nassau County, N.Y., Oct. 14, 2026 — Two people were injured late Monday night, October 12, after a driver fleeing police struck another vehicle and crashed onto a residential lawn on East Seaman Avenue in Freeport, New York, according to Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy.
The crash happened around 11:45 p.m., Kennedy said. Police were reportedly conducting an undercover investigation and looking for a person on foot when officers became suspicious of a car that circled the block several times. Officers tried to stop the vehicle, a 21-year-old driver who Kennedy said did not pull over.
A witness, identified by the station as Victor Sanchez of Freeport, said he heard the car speeding through the area and estimated it may have been traveling around 90 mph, though that figure has not been confirmed by investigators. The vehicle struck another car and came to rest on the lawn of a home on East Seaman Avenue. Surveillance video reviewed by the station reportedly showed the driver running from the scene afterward.
Police located the driver on foot a few blocks away a short time later. He and the woman driving the vehicle he struck were both taken to a hospital. The driver's father, identified only as Dave, told the station his son was afraid of police and had been running from them before the crash, a characterization authorities did not confirm.
The 21-year-old faces charges including fleeing police and traffic violations, Kennedy said. He said officers also recovered about two pounds of marijuana from the man's car.
The investigation remains open. We hope those who were hurt recover fully.
What Makes a High-Speed Pursuit Crash So Destructive
A pursuit crash is rarely about one vehicle. It is about closing speed, the rate at which two vehicles come together, which can be far higher than either car's posted speed alone. A driver going 60 or 70 mph who strikes a car moving through an intersection at a normal pace creates a combined force closer to a crash at both speeds added together, not just one.
Weight and construction matter too. The front and rear of most vehicles are built with crumple zones designed to absorb impact and slow the force before it reaches the cabin. Side panels and doors have far less material to absorb that same energy, so a car struck broadside, as can happen when a fleeing driver runs a stop sign or crosses into another lane, takes damage more directly. Airbags and seatbelts help manage the sudden stop, but they are built around a certain range of crash speeds and angles. Above that range, their ability to limit the impact drops off.
Road and weather conditions change the outcome further. Wet or uneven pavement extends stopping distance and reduces tire grip, so a driver trying to brake or steer away from a collision at high speed has less room to recover than the same driver would on dry, flat road. At night, with reduced visibility, drivers also have less time to react before a vehicle crossing their path becomes unavoidable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right after a car accident?
Call 911, check for injuries, and stay at the scene if it's safe to do so. Move to the shoulder or a nearby lot if the vehicles are still drivable and blocking traffic. Exchange information with the other driver and wait for police to arrive and document the scene.
Where do most traffic accidents happen?
Crashes cluster at intersections, on local and residential streets with cross traffic, and on roads with higher speed limits where stopping distance matters most. Nighttime and wet-road conditions raise the risk on any of these.
How can drivers reduce their crash risk?
Leaving extra following distance, slowing down in wet or dark conditions, and obeying traffic stops instead of fleeing all reduce the chance of a serious collision. Most of these decisions come down to speed and reaction time.
What injuries are most common in car accidents?
Common injuries include whiplash and other neck or back strain, head injuries, and broken bones, especially in side-impact or high-speed collisions. Severity generally rises with the speed and angle of impact.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Freeport, NY
If you're involved in a crash in Freeport, call 911 right away and get checked by medical personnel even if you feel fine; some injuries, like concussions or internal bruising, aren't obvious right after impact. Take photos of the vehicles and the scene if you're able, and get the names and badge numbers of responding officers. Ask for a copy of the police report once it's filed, and follow up with your doctor in the days after if new symptoms appear. Giving yourself time to heal, and keeping records of any medical visits, makes it easier to sort out what happened later.
