Police: Victims struck twice in same night by drunk drivers in Riverhead
The same two passengers were victims in a pair of unrelated DWI crashes hours apart at the same Riverhead intersection late Saturday and early Sunday, state police said.
Two men were arrested on drunk driving charges in the incidents, which involved the same two victims in two different cars, officials said.
In the first incident, Byron Juares, 21, rear-ended a vehicle near the intersection of East Main Street and Phillips Avenue about 11:20 p.m., Riverhead police said. The drivers of the vehicle that was struck left the scene to be treated for minor injuries at Peconic Bay Medical Center, while Mr. Juares remained on the scene and was arrested.
The car that was struck was not immediately located by Riverhead police, but a few hours later a different vehicle carrying the same two passengers, who had returned to the scene, was struck head-on by another alleged drunk driver, state police said.
Cornelio Lopez, 31, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after he struck the vehicle in the second incident. He was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries, state police said.
The victims were also taken to the hospital for minor injuries, police said.
Mr. Juares was charged with driving while intoxicated in the first incident, and held for arraignment. Mr. Juares’ place of residence was unavailable, police said.
