A Suffolk County Police Officer assigned to the Community Response Bureau has turned himself in to the Fourth Precinct this morning for the a hit-and-run crash that critically injured a motorcyclist in Ronkonkoma on Sunday, September 20th. Thomas O’Neill, 44 was charged by Vehicular Crime detectives with Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Serious Physical Injury, a Class E Felony.
Nesconset resident, Charles Giardinello was driving his motorcycle east on Portion Road, just 100 feet east of Avenue B Sunday evening. At approximately 7:25 PM a westbound pickup truck, attempting to turn left into a parking lot collided with Giardinello. The truck, described as a newer model, gray, full-size 4-door pickup, fled the scene northbound on Avenue B, with damages sustained to the passenger side doors and bed. Giardinello, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he remains in critical condition.
O’Neill, who has been with the department for twelve years, was off duty at the time of the crash. A physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner collected blood work from O’Neil, which he voluntarily submitted, to be analyzed for alcohol and drugs. The officer cooperated with the investigation further, providing the pickup truck for search and forensic analysis. O’Neill was arraigned on Monday, at First District Court in Central Islip. He has been suspended without pay