Man Charged With Vehicular Assault In West Islip Crash: Police

WEST ISLIP, NY — A West Islip man was indicted Friday after crashing his vehicle while intoxicated into a man backing his car out of his driveway, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said.

Ryan Wilson, 21, of West Islip, was indicted for second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular assault and other related charges after he crashed his car—while allegedly intoxicated and at a high speed—into a 67-year-old man who was backing his vehicle out of a driveway.

According to the investigation, Wilson left his home with four other people in his 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicle on March 9, 2024, at around 8:45 p.m. headed northbound on West Islip Road in West Islip, the DA said.

Wilson was allegedly driving over 94 miles per hour while intoxicated on the residential road when he struck the driver's side of a 67-year-old man's car who was backing out of his driveway, the DA said.

The DA said the impact caused "catastrophic damage." The victim was removed from his vehicle by first responders and suffered a severe spinal cord injury that required surgery, the DA said.

Wilson and one of his passengers were also transported to South Shore University Hospital in BayShore for treatment of minor injuries, the DA said.

Wilson was arraigned on Friday before Acting Supreme Court JusticeSteven A. Pilewski and indicted for second-degree assault, a Class D felony; second-degree vehicular assault, a Class E felony; second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor; driving while intoxicated per se, an Unclassified misdemeanor; driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor and reckless driving, an unclassified misdemeanor.

“Imagine backing out of a driveway in a residential neighborhood and in a blink of an eye, you are mauled by a vehicle traveling at an obscene amount of speed. That is what vehicular assault is, and that is what is being alleged in this case,” Tierney said. “The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office will continue to hold individuals accountable for their dangerous actions.”

Justice Pilewski placed Wilson on supervised release and suspended his driving privileges during
the pendency of the case.

Wilson is due back in court on June 26.

Patch reached out to Steve Politi who represents Wilson. He has not yet responded to comment.