Update: Nine total injuries in Calverton crash; driver may face additional charges

UPDATE, 10:40 p.m.: A total of nine people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy who were ejected from a Jeep Wrangler, following a two-car crash near the entrance to Splish Splash Tuesday afternoon. None of the injuries, including the two children, appeared to be life-threatening, according to an update from Riverhead Town police.

The driver of the Jeep, Joshua Alvin Burns, was issued traffic tickets for seatbelt violations involving three unsecured children in the vehicle and for driving with an inadequate tire, police said. The crash remains under investigation and additional charges may be filed, police said.

Police said none of the children in the vehicle were secured in car seats or seatbelts.

Mr. Burns was turning left onto Splish Splash Drive and turned in front of an eastbound Dodge Charger driven by Ronaldo Paiz, police said. The collision caused two of the children to be ejected from the Jeep. Witnesses described how the children were struck by one of the Jeep’s tires before the vehicle came to a stop with the the tire on top of the children, police said. The crash was reported to police at 3:37 p.m.

Four victims in the crash were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital via ambulance in addition to the two children who were airlifted, police said. The other three victims were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center.

The New York State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene to assist in the investigation, which is ongoing, police said. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Riverhead police at 631-727-4500.

ORIGINAL STORY: A multi-vehicle crash near the entrance to Splish Splash in Calverton Tuesday afternoon has closed traffic on Route 25 in both directions.

According to Riverhead Police, a white Jeep Wrangler carrying eight people — including two children and an infant —was heading west on Route 25, attempting to make a left into the water park, when it struck a 2007 Dodge Charger. The Jeep spun around, ejecting the two children who were airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital.

Officers at the scene said that someone in the Jeep was holding the infant on their lap at the time of the crash. It’s unclear on the total number of injuries or the conditions of the two children and the infant at this time.

First responders from Riverhead, Manorville, Flanders, Ridge and Wading River all responded to the crash.

Two Suffolk County police medevac helicopters were called to the scene and landed at the nearby sod field shortly after 4 p.m. to airlift the two children to Stony Brook Hospital.

CORRECTION: The Dodge Charger was a 2007, not a 2017.