A Phoenix, Arizona man was driving drunk and in possession of an illegal handgun when he was involved in a crash at a railroad crossing in Aquebogue Saturday afternoon, and failed to stop, Riverhead Police said in a press release this morning.
On Saturday at 5:26 p.m. a patrol officer observed a vehicle that committed a traffic offense and then was involved in a minor motor vehicle accident with a railroad crossing on Edgar Avenue and failed to stop, police said.
The officer pulled the vehicle over and determined that the operator was driving while intoxicated, according to the report. During the investigation, a 9mm semiautomatic handgun was recovered from the operator’s vehicle, according to the press release.
Matthew R. White, 49, was subsequently charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, criminal possession of a firearm, a class E felony, Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, and numerous traffic infractions including operating a motor vehicle without an interlock device.
White was processed and held for arraignment, police said. His vehicle was impounded pursuant to Suffolk County seizure law for driving while intoxicated with a prior DWI conviction, police said.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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