Cops: Four students struck, injured at intersection near Elmont high school

Two high school students were critically injured Wednesday afternoon in Elmont and two others suffered less extensive injuries after a car involved in a multi-vehicle crash careened out of control and struck them as they stood on a sidewalk, Nassau police said.

The students at Elmont Memorial Junior-Senior High School, three girls and a boy who police said were 15 or 16, had just left the campus after classes ended for the day, police said. They were standing near the intersection of Elmont Road and Dutch Broadway just as the crash of four vehicles occured. The high school grounds sit at the northwest corner of the intersection.

One of the female victims in critical condition was airlifted to a hospital and the other was transported by ambulance, Ryder said.

The other victims, a boy and a girl, suffered nonlife-threatening injuries and were also transported to a hospital for treatment. 

“One of the vehicles left the road as it was going westbound, struck a tree and then a pole,” said Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder at a news conference near the scene of the crash. “There were four kids that were standing there on the sidewalk …They were struck by that vehicle and that vehicle then overturned.”

Police said no one in any of the vehicles was injured.

Officials said the victims all appeared to be about 15 years old.

"Our prayers go out to the victims and their families,” Ryder said.

Details on the nature of the teenagers' injuries were not released.

"During dismissal today, four students that were walking home on the sidewalk on Dutch Broadway were struck by a car," wrote Kevin Dougherty, the high school's principal, in a message sent to parents Wednesday night. "All students were appropriately transported to the hospital and parents of the injured were notified. We will keep you updated as we get more information. As always the safety of your students is our utmost concern."

No arrests have been made, said Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun. The crash is being investigated by the Nassau police department’s Fifth Squad, Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Section. 

“My heart goes out to the families of the children involved and to the entire Elmont community,” said Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education Trustee Tameka Battle-Burkett. “This tragedy is affecting us all.”

With Stefanie Dazio