Police
say two men have been arrested for stealing a catalytic converter, running from
officers and then crashing their car.
News
12 has learned the crash was the reason the westbound Southern State Parkway
was backed up for miles on Thursday.
Police tell News 12 officers responded to a
catalytic converter theft and found the two suspects' vehicles at the
intersection of Hempstead Turnpike and Nassau Boulevard around 4 a.m.
When police tried to approach the cars, they both
fled.
Shortly after, one of the suspected vehicles was
found on the Southern State after it was involved in a single-car crash.
Justin Diaz, 21, and Christian Alcantara, 20, were
placed under arrest.
They
are both facing multiple
charges.