Police

Update: Police identify cabbie, passenger in Pulaski crash

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1 a.m. Monday and includes new details released by Riverhead Town police.

A 26-year-old Riverhead man was critically injured Sunday night after the taxi cab he was riding in crashed into an unoccupied vehicle parked on Pulaski Street in Riverhead, according to a Riverhead Town police press release.

Charles Williams, 23, of Riverhead was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Venture taxi cab — owned by Day and Night Taxi and Limo — westbound on Pulaski Street with his passenger, Tarell Holloway, at around 8:15 p.m. when his vehicle crashed into a 2000 Nissan pickup truck parked on the eastbound side of the road, police said.

Mr. Williams “was distracted picking up an item off the floor of the vehicle” when the accident occurred, police said.

The victim, who police said is friends with Mr. Williams, suffered a serious head injury and was airlifted to Stony Brook Medical Center by Suffolk County Police Aviation from an athletic field at Pulaski Street School at around 9:20 p.m. No other injuries were reported.

The cab driver was issued a summons, police said, and “no criminal charges are anticipated at this time.”

An employee at the West Main Street taxi company declined comment Sunday night.

Pulaski Street was closed between Hamilton and Osborn avenues during the rescue efforts and reopened at 9:45 p.m., police said.

In addition to Riverhead Town police, Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Riverhead Fire Department officials responded to the scene.

Police said both vehicles were impounded for a safety checks and the accident is still under investigation

See photos and video from the crash scene.