A tragic incident occurred in Massapequa on Tuesday evening when a 21-year-old Jericho woman was involved in a fatal car crash on Sunrise Highway and then commandeered a public safety vehicle.
Nassau County Police report that at approximately 6:45 p.m., Rachel Lodice was traveling south on Hicksville Road in a 2023 Kia when she collided with a 2022 Nissan Altima that was headed east on Sunrise Highway. The crash resulted in the death of the 64-year-old driver of the Nissan, whose name has not been released, after being transported to a nearby hospital with severe injuries.
Another victim, a 46-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Nissan, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to the hospital for treatment.
In the aftermath of the accident, a Town of Oyster Bay public safety officer, who was on patrol, stopped at the scene to offer assistance. During this time, Lodice managed to enter the officer’s marked vehicle and fled. She was apprehended shortly thereafter by the authorities.
Lodice has been charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident, driving while intoxicated, and third-degree grand larceny. She is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday at the First District Court in Hempstead.
Source: Newsday
