A Kings Park man was arrested for drunken driving after he was involved in a van crash that claimed the life of a 58-year-old man and injured a woman in Commack Tuesday night, Suffolk police said.
Kenneth Lesser was driving a Toyota Sienna van eastbound on New Highway in his hometown of Commack when his van was struck by a speeding Ford Econoline work truck that blew the red light while heading southbound on Harned Road at 9:49 p.m., according to 4th Squad detectives. The Ford rolled over and struck a Nissan Altima that was waiting for the traffic light to change at the corner.
Rodrigo Ramirez-Vega
Lesser was trapped within his van and died at the scene. The driver of the Nissan, Tina Marie Fisher, 25, of Commack, was taken to Huntington Hospital complaining of back pain.
The driver of the Ford, Rodrigo Ramirez-Vega, 25, and his passenger, Victor Franco, 31, of Woodside, were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. Ramirez-Vega complained of leg and chest pain while Franco suffered an injury to his right arm. Franco was admitted to the hospital. Ramirez-Vega was treated, released and then was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Ramirez-Vega pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated at his arraignment Wednesday and was held on $100,000 bail. He was represented by an attorney from Legal Aid, which has a policy of not commenting on pending cases.
All of the vehicles involved have been impounded for safety examinations as the investigation is continuing.
