Man Arrested After 2 Crashes, Colliding With Trees, In Riverhead: PD

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead man was arrested Tuesday after he crashed into two vehicles and then careened into trees, police said.

According to Riverhead Town police, the incident took place at 6:37 p.m. A call came in about a crash at the intersection of Osborn Avenue and Lincoln Street, police said.

Christian Alexander Hernandez Saenz, 24, was driving a white, four-door 2006 Acura sedan west on Lincoln Street at a high rate of speed; he headed through the intersection at Osborn Avenue and collided with a white 2015 Toyota RAV4, driven by a woman and heading south on Osborn Ave, causing extensive damage to both vehicles, police said.

After the initial crash, Saenz continued westbound on Lincoln Street and collided with another vehicle, a 2007 BMW X5, which was parked and unoccupied on the side of the road on Lincoln Street, causing damage to the BMW and further damage to the Acura; he then careened into trees and came to a stop just off the roadway on Lincoln Street, police said.

Saenz was entrapped in the Acura due to the extent of the vehicle's damage, requiring him to be extricated from the vehicle by members of the Riverhead Fire Department, police said.

The Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps was notified and responded. Due to the extent of the Saenz' injuries, he was airlifted by Suffolk County aviation to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The female driver of the 2015 Toyota Rav4 sustained what appeared to be minor injuries and was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment by the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps, police said.

The Riverhead Police Department's detective division and the New York State Police Department's forensic investigation unit were notified and responded to the scene to assist with the investigation, police said.

Saenz was arrested and charged with second-degree reckless endangerment; reckless driving; leaving the scene of a crash involving injury; and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, all misdemeanors, police said.

Saenz was issued a desk appearance ticket while at the hospital to appear in Riverhead Justice Court at a later date and was released from custody, police said.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500. All calls will be kept confidential.