Oyster Bay man charged with DWI, leaving scene of crash that left Nassau officer injured, police say

An Oyster Bay man was arraigned Tuesday, charged with leaving the scene of an accident that left a Nassau County police officer hospitalized with  nonlife-threatening injuries.

Police said the officer, who is assigned to the Second Precinct but whose identity was not released, was on duty Monday evening when his marked patrol unit, traveling north on Berry Hill Road in Oyster Bay Cove, was struck by a southbound black Chevrolet Suburban at about 8:30 p.m. The crash caused the police vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a tree, a police statement said.

Police said the driver of the Suburban, identified as Christopher Drabin, 55, of Cove Road, "fled the scene"  on McCouns Lane. More than an hour later, police said, Drabin returned, and he was placed under arrest and charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident with physical injury. Drabin also was issued summonses for what police described as "multiple" vehicle and traffic law violations.

Drabin was arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead and held pending a bail of $10,000 bond or $5,000 cash. His attorney could not be immediately reached late Tuesday afternoon.  

The officer was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries, which were not disclosed Tuesday.

A police spokesman said the officer was in stable condition and was able to communicate with others Tuesday afternoon but will remain in the hospital for observation.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”