A 36-year-old woman was killed while fleeing a Suffolk County police captain who pulled her over in Yaphank on suspicion of drunken driving Monday evening, authorities said.
Melissa Maher, of Brookhaven, was driving her Honda Accord erratically on Yaphank Avenue when Captain Dennis Sullivan stopped her on Mason Street at 7:55 p.m., police said.
Maher, who had her 6-year-old daughter in the car, pleaded with the captain to let her go because she feared her ex-husband, the child’s father, would be upset with her, police said.
The captain ordered her to stand behind her vehicle while he called for backup to conduct field sobriety tests after he smelled alcohol on Maher, police said.
But Maher ran back to her car, drove off and evaded the captain’s attempt to block her from fleeing, police said.
As she pulled back onto Yaphank Avenue, police said Maher’s car was struck on the driver’s side by a northbound Ford pick-up truck, police said.
Maher was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her daughter, Mia, was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue and later transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries to her head and extremities.
The truck driver, Matthew Petheram, and his wife, Kristy, both 26 of Brookhaven, were not injured.
The vehicles were impounded for safety checks while the investigation is continuing.
Fifth Squad detectives ask anyone with information about the crash to call them at 631-854-8552 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
