A three-car chain-reaction crash on Dutch Broadway in North Valley Stream on Sunday night ended with a Franklin Square man charged under Leandra’s Law, after police say he drove drunk with a 5-year-old boy unrestrained in his car. As a Nassau County drunk driving accident lawyer team, we’re sharing what’s been reported, why impaired-driving crashes remain a serious danger on Long Island this week, and what rights you have if a drunk driver ever hits you.
According to LongIsland.com and Long Island Life & Politics, which reported details released by Nassau County Police, no injuries were reported at the scene. We’re relieved that’s the case, and grateful that the child was evaluated by a police medic.
What Happened on Dutch Broadway
Police say the crash happened at about 7:23 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026, near Dutch Broadway and Downing Road in North Valley Stream. All three vehicles were heading east on Dutch Broadway. According to the reports, a 2024 BMW struck a 2020 Chevrolet, which then struck a 2017 Ford.
Police say the BMW’s driver, a 30-year-old Franklin Square man, was intoxicated; officers arrested him without incident. Police say a 5-year-old boy was riding in the BMW without a child restraint system. A Nassau County Police medic evaluated the boy at the scene, and his mother declined further medical attention.
The driver was charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a child under 16 (Leandra’s Law), Driving While Intoxicated, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Reckless Endangerment, and was scheduled for arraignment on Monday, October 26, at First District Court in Hempstead. These are allegations only; every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Case Today (212) 977-2020
Why Drunk Driving Crashes Are a Special Concern This Week
The arrest came on the first night of a statewide enforcement push. On October 26, Governor Kathy Hochul announced increased State Police and local patrols running from October 25 through October 31, with sobriety checkpoints and extra DWI patrols. The announcement cited NHTSA data showing that from 2019 to 2024, 176 people were killed nationally on Halloween night in crashes involving a drunk driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, and noted research finding pedestrian fatality risk is 43 percent higher on Halloween than on other nights.
Year-round, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that roughly a third of all U.S. traffic deaths involve a drunk driver. Many impaired-driving crashes, like this one, are rear-end and chain-reaction collisions, where slowed reaction time leaves a driver unable to stop in traffic.
Leandra’s Law: What It Means
New York’s Leandra’s Law, passed in 2009 after the death of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, makes driving while intoxicated with a passenger aged 15 or younger a felony, even on a first offense. Drivers convicted of DWI are also generally required to install an ignition interlock device. Leandra’s Law is a criminal statute, but the conduct it targets often matters in a related civil injury claim as well.
Your Rights After a Drunk Driving Accident in New York
If you are hurt by an impaired driver in Nassau County, a Nassau County drunk driving accident lawyer can help you understand several layers of protection under New York law:
- No-Fault benefits first. New York is a no-fault state. Your own auto policy generally pays basic economic loss, such as medical bills and a portion of lost wages, up to $50,000, regardless of who caused the crash. No-Fault applications have strict deadlines, often 30 days.
- A lawsuit against the drunk driver. To recover for pain and suffering, an injured person generally must show a “serious injury” as defined in New York Insurance Law § 5102(d), such as a fracture or significant limitation of a body function. Economic losses above No-Fault limits can also be pursued.
- Punitive damages. In some cases involving highly reckless conduct such as extreme intoxication, New York courts have allowed claims for punitive damages.
- Dram Shop claims. Under New York’s Dram Shop Act (General Obligations Law § 11-101), a bar or restaurant that unlawfully sold alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person may share responsibility for the harm that person causes.
- Deadlines. Most personal injury claims in New York must be filed within three years, and wrongful death claims generally within two years. Claims against a municipality usually require a Notice of Claim within 90 days.
So, can you sue a drunk driver? Often, yes, and a criminal charge doesn’t stop you from bringing a separate civil claim. The criminal case is brought by the District Attorney; your civil case is about compensation for you and your family.
What To Do After a Rear-End or Chain-Reaction Crash
- Call 911 and ask for police and medical help, even if injuries seem minor.
- Get checked by a doctor promptly. Whiplash, concussions and back injuries can take hours or days to show symptoms, and children may not be able to describe their pain.
- If it’s safe, photograph the vehicles, the scene, and any signs the other driver may be impaired, and get witness contact information.
- Get the police report number and the other drivers’ insurance information.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to another driver’s insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
- Talk with a car accident lawyer about No-Fault deadlines and your options.
How Chaikin Trial Group Can Help
Chaikin Trial Group represents people injured by drunk and reckless drivers across Long Island and New York City. As an experienced Long Island personal injury lawyer team based in Melville, we handle the No-Fault paperwork, investigate the crash, review the criminal case file, look into possible Dram Shop and other liability claims, and build a case for the full compensation the law allows. If a loved one was killed, our wrongful death lawyers can guide your family through the process.
You can see our case results and client reviews, or check the areas we serve, including Valley Stream, Franklin Square and all of Nassau County. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a drunk driving accident lawyer if the driver was already arrested?
An arrest helps establish what happened, but the criminal case won’t pay your medical bills or lost wages. A drunk driving accident lawyer handles your separate civil claim against the driver, their insurer, and any other responsible parties.
What is Leandra’s Law in New York?
Leandra’s Law makes it a felony to drive while intoxicated with a child 15 or younger in the vehicle, even for a first offense, and requires ignition interlock devices for DWI convictions.
Can I sue a drunk driver if I was rear-ended?
Generally, yes. In most rear-end collisions the striking driver is presumed negligent, and intoxication strengthens that claim. A rear end collision lawyer can help you meet New York’s serious injury threshold and No-Fault deadlines.
How does New York’s Dram Shop law work?
Under the Dram Shop Act, a business that unlawfully serves alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person may be liable for injuries that person later causes. A Nassau County car accident lawyer can investigate where the driver was drinking. See our personal injury FAQs for more.
Talk to a Nassau County Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a family member was hurt by an impaired driver in Valley Stream or anywhere in Nassau County, a Nassau County drunk driving accident lawyer at Chaikin Trial Group can review your case for free. There’s no fee unless we win. Contact us online. Offices in Melville (445 Broadhollow Rd, Suite 232) and Manhattan (450 7th Ave, Ste 1901).
Attorney Advertising. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.