Community Corner

Is There an Alcohol Problem on Long Island? [POLL]

Several fatal DWI and BWI crashes have occurred in recent weeks.

Multiple fatal alcohol-related crashes occured over the weekend, and more incidents are expected as the July Fourth holiday draws near. 

A in the Great South Bay. Following the accident, the driver of the vessel that struck the boat, Brian Andreski, 26, of Dix Hills was charged with boating while intoxicated.

Christopher Mannino, 39, was one of five people aboard a 1967 38-foot Hatteras when it was struck by a 25-foot Skater off Captree Island around 4:50 a.m., police said. He was thrown into the water and was missing until a police dive team officer recovered his body at 1:30 p.m.

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

Twenty four hours later, in the Great South Bay. 

The Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau was conducting vessel inspection on a boat Sunday when officers found that the operator, Michael Shear, 29, of Holtsville, appeared intoxicated. He, along with Olimpio Rego, 26, of Ronkokoma, who allegedly drove the boat, were arrested and charged with boating while intoxicated. 

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

Then on Sunday night, 18-year-old Brittney Walsh of Lindenhurst, who had just graduated high school, was killed when her car was struck by a drunk driver on Montauk Highway late Sunday.

Another two men were arrested and charged with drunken driving late Sunday and early Monday in the Town of Southold, police said.

The first arrest occurred on Route 25 in Mattituck at about 11 p.m. Sunday, the second on Route 25 in Southold just after midnight, Southold police said. Hector Jimenez, 23, of New Suffolk was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to maintain his travel lane and driving with a suspended license following the first traffic stop. Gerardo Gonzalez, 20, of Hampton Bays, was arrested and charged with DWI.

On Memorial Day, a Brooklyn woman who police say was drunk and speeding, plowed a Mercedes-Benz convertible through a Huntington home on Southdown Road. Sophia Anderson, 21, had a blood-alcohol content level almost four times the legal limit, Suffolk County prosecutors said. The vehicle nearly hit a 90-year-old woman and her sister inside of the home. Anderson was charged with DWI.

Do you think there is an alcohol problem on Long Island? Vote in the polland tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.


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