3 hurt after wreck on Sunrise in Copiague; 1 charged with DWI

COPIAGUE, Long Island (WABC) -- Three people were hurt, including one who was arrested for DWI, in a wreck on Long Island in Copiague.

At 3 a.m. Tuesday, Suffolk County Police Department received a call about a vehicle swerving and driving erratically on the Sunrise Highway.

According to the Suffolk County Police Department, Elmer Santos-Cardoza was driving a 1999 Dodge pickup truck eastbound on Sunrise Highway when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a telephone pole.

Upon impact, Santos-Cardoza, 24, of Babylon, and his two passengers, Melvin Mansonarez, 20, and Jose Santamaria, 20, both also of Babylon, were ejected from the vehicle.

Santamaria was struck by a 2008 Toyota Camry driven by a 42-year-old Levittown man after he was ejected. He was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.

Santos-Cardoza and Mansonarez were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where they were treated for serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Santos-Cardoza was arrested and charged with DWI.

Eastbound Sunrise Highway was closed for the investigation.