A street racing gathering at a shopping mall in Patchogue led to the arrest of an individual and the injury of another, with indications that the event may have spilled into other regions of Brookhaven during the course of the night. According to town representatives and law enforcement reports, this incident was part of a larger issue. At around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, Suffolk Police intervened in what they referred to as a ‘car meet’ taking place at the Gateway Plaza located on Sunrise Highway.
The police identified 19-year-old Danya Northington from Roosevelt as a key player in the event. She was observed by law enforcement as she hastily vacated the location. A short while later, the police apprehended her. It was confirmed that she was apprehended for alleged misdemeanors involving the unsafe escape from permission of police officers and reckless endangerment.
However, Northington was not the only person involved in the incident. Another young woman of the same age who came to observe the spectacle of car racing ended up being injured by one of the vehicles. According to the accounts, the car was engaged in ‘doing donuts’, a display of risky driving behavior, within the parking lot when it struck the young woman.
The details around the woman’s injury were revealed to the authorities after 3 a.m. following her self-initiated visit to a local hospital. Labelled as ‘serious but not life-threatening’ by the police, they discovered the injuries then. A deeper investigation is being conducted by Suffolk Police detectives looking into the circumstance of the incident in detail.
Part of their investigation involves studying the possibility of a connection between the event in Patchogue and subsequent motor vehicle incidents that were reported shortly afterwards. These incidents occurred along Route 25A in both Sound Beach and Miller Place, as well as William Floyd Parkway situated in Shirley.
Footage from social media platforms depicting similar incidents showed vehicles demonstrating drifting, a practice which involves intentional oversteering leading to traction loss, and then skillfully driving sideways whilst maintaining command of the vehicle as it moves around corners.
Dan Panico, the Town Supervisor of Brookhaven, shared his views on the issue. He pointed out that while individual instances of illegal drifting on public roads happen sporadically, the events of early Sunday morning suggested something more coordinated – a ‘planned night of chaos’ as he put it.
Pulling no punches about the nature of the incidents, Panico described them as ‘absurd’. He explained that several town council members were apprised of the incidents occurring within their constituencies overnight. He expressed a strong belief that a firm crackdown from law enforcement and the judiciary is the necessary response to those engaging in such behavior.
Panico mentioned a particular video recorded at an intersection in Miller Place. It evidently showed multiple cars participating in drifting, with several spectators on the scene. Disturbingly, the video portrayed the location obstructed even as an ambulance sought to navigate through.
“The most galling video of all,” was how Panico characterized it. He further emphasized the urgency of the issue by reminding that the obstruction of such critical public service vehicles is a serious public safety risk.
Having had discussions with county authorities regarding the events, the supervisor expressed assurance that police possess the capacity to conduct thorough investigations and apprehend the drivers featured in various videos circulating online.
Displaying an optimistic perspective, he shared his hope that the implicated vehicles could be lawfully confiscated, thereby serving as a deterrent to potential future offenders.
“If it was just the incident in the parking lot, that’s bad enough,” was the calculating remark by Panico, stressing the severity of the situation. He was particularly aggrieved by the actions resulting in the blockage of major intersections on principal roadways, causing hindrances to public service vehicles like ambulances.
He concluded by expressing his shock at the audacity displayed during the incidents, reinforcing his belief in strong punitive measures for casual disruption of fundamental civic infrastructure.