Suffolk officer accused of leaving crash scene

A Suffolk County police officer turned himself in Monday for leaving the scene of a crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Ronkonkoma this weekend. Officials say Thomas O'Neill is charged with

News 12 Staff

Sep 22, 2015, 6:09 AM

Updated 3,230 days ago

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A Suffolk County police officer turned himself in Monday for leaving the scene of a crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Ronkonkoma this weekend.
Officials say Thomas O'Neill is charged with leaving the scene of an incident resulting in serious physical injury, a class-E felony.
The incident happened on Portion Road just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
According to police, 40-year-old Charles Giardinello, of Nesconset, was riding a motorcycle when he collided with a pickup truck that was attempting to turn into a parking lot. O'Neill, the truck's driver, allegedly fled the scene.
Police say O'Neill, 44, is a 12-year veteran of the force and is assigned to the Community Response Bureau. He was off duty at the time of the crash, and has been suspended without pay.
Authorities say O'Neill submitted to a blood test to be analyzed for alcohol and drugs after he turned himself in.
He was arraigned Monday at First District Court in Central Islip.
Giardinello is in critical condition at Stony Brook University Hospital.


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