A five-year-old boy riding a bicycle was seriously injured when he was hit by a pickup truck operated by a drunk driver Saturday evening, according to Riverhead Town Police.
The child was treated at the scene by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital where he is in serious condition, police said.
William H. Downing, operating a 2003 Cadillac Escalade pickup truck, was attempting to make a left turn onto Doris Avenue from Lewis Street in Riverhead at about 6:40 p.m. last night, when he struck the boy, who was riding a bicycle at the intersection, according to police. Downing stayed at the scene, police said.
Downing was found to be operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for driving while intoxicated, pending toxicology results, police said in a press release. He was held for morning arraignment. Downing’s vehicle was impounded for safety checks, police said.
The boy, who was not identified by police, suffered a serious head injury, according to the police report.
Riverhead police detectives and the N.Y. State Police accident reconstruction unit were called to investigate. The investigation is ongoing, police said. They urge any witnesses or anyone with information to contact the Riverhead Police detective division at 631-727-4500 Ext. 326.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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