East Meadow Woman Arrested After 8-Car Crash That Injures 6

An East Meadow woman was arrested for DWI after police say she was involved in an eight-vehicle crash that injured six people on the Long Island Expressway in Melville on Friday night.

According to authorities, two cars collided after eastbound traffic slowed down for a car fire near Exit 49, causing a chain-reaction crash involving an oil tanker at 10:22 p.m.

A minivan involved in the crash, driven by 45-year-old East Meadow resident Suzanne Butler, skidded to a stop under the oil tanker and became stuck, police say. Butler was able to exit the vehicle and was taken to Huntington Hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Police say she was subsequently placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. Butler will be held overnight at the Fourth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday morning.

Five other people involved in the crash were transported to local hospitals by Melville, Dix Hills and Plainview fire department rescue squads for treatment of minor injuries.

The photo below shows the car fire that caused the traffic slowdown before the crash.

Written by Paige McAtee

Photos courtesy of the Melville Fire Department