4 kids, 2 adults hospitalized after driver loses control of minivan on Staten Island

Monday, July 18, 2016
GRASMERE, Staten Island (WABC) -- A 35-year-old man lost control of a minivan while driving on Fingerboard Road on Monday afternoon, crashing into a utility pole on Staten Island.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. on Fingerboard Road just south of the Staten Island Expressway in the Grasmere section.
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There were five passengers inside the minivan at the time - a 11-month-old girl, a 3-year-old girl, a 9-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl and a 33-year-old woman. All were taken to Staten Island hospital in critical, but stable condition.

Police said shortly after the crash, off-duty NYPD officer Joseph Villarreal was driving home when saw the van crash with smoke coming from engine. He got the children out of vehicle, and with a help of a good Samaritan, got the woman out of the car.


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The driver is currently in police custody at Staten Island North Hospital, and is expected to be charged with DWI.



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