2 police officers, 2 civilians injured when man crashes in cop car in Hauppague

HAUPPAUGE (WABC) -- Suffolk County police arrested a Brentwood man for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle following a three-vehicle crash that injured two police officers and seriously injured a man and a woman in Hauppauge Tuesday evening.

Authorities say Orvin Antonio Gabriel, 24, was driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla westbound on Route 347 when his vehicle struck the rear of an unoccupied police vehicle at approximately 8:40 p.m.

The police vehicle then struck two police officers and the two occupants of a 2013 Hyundai Sonata that had been stopped by the officers a short time before the crash.

Samantha Koppen, 25, of Levittown and Chad Jackowski, 37, of Farmingdale, were transported via Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, where they are listed in serious condition with multiple internal injuries.

Koppen was initially stopped by police for a vehicle and traffic infraction. Drug paraphernalia and a quantity of heroin were recovered during the traffic stop.

Officers John Kurklen and Adam Tuthill were transported to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, where they were treated and released.

All three vehicles were impounded for safety checks and the investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the Vehicular Crime Unit at 631-852-6555.