3 Teens Among 4 Hurt In LIE Crash

YAPHANK, NY — Four people were hurt when a teen driver crashed into a disabled Jeep on a shoulder of the Long Island Expressway Friday afternoon, police said.

According to Suffolk police, 47-year-old Michael Ruotolo was sitting in his disabled 2021 Jeep Explorer on the shoulder of the westbound LIE near Exit 68 in Yaphank when a 2019 Toyota Camry traveling westbound lost control and crashed into the Jeep.

The driver of the Toyota, Madison Cheeseman, 17, of East Patchogue, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One of her passengers, William Brewster, 17, of Bellport, was also transported to Stony Brook with serious injuries.

Another passenger in the Toyota, Nicholas Fortunato, 16, of Bellport, was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue with non-life threatening injuries.

Ruotolo, of Farmingdale, also suffered non-life threatening injuries and is being treated at Stony Brook University Hospital.

Cheeseman has a valid driver's license, police said. No criminal charges have been filed.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call Seventh Squad detectives at 631-852-8752.