Family seeks answers about ride-share crash that critically injured James King, 22

The family of an East Northport man is seeking answers after receiving what they say is conflicting information from the police about an early Saturday morning crash they say left their relative hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury.

James King, 22, was a passenger in a ride-share vehicle that was struck at 12:03 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Elwood Road and Saratoga Avenue in East Northport, according to information provided by King’s family to Newsday.

Suffolk police, responding to a public information request by Newsday, confirmed the time and location of the crash and said three people were injured, including a 22-year-old who suffered serious injuries.

Police declined to name the individuals involved in the crash, which they said is being investigated by the department’s Major Case Unit.

King’s family said they learned of the crash after a Suffolk police officer knocked on the door of the family's home and left a police Accident Information Exchange Form with a family member. That officer said the driver of the other vehicle was the son of the man listed as the operator on the form and that he drove through a stop sign before striking the vehicle King was a passenger in, the family said.

The form shared with King’s family and provided to Newsday lists John McGay, a Suffolk police detective, as the other driver. Police did not respond to a follow-up request seeking additional information about McGay’s role in the crash.

McGay did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

Suffolk police issued three news releases last weekend naming drivers in other crashes in which people suffered serious injuries and no criminal charges were filed. A news release was not issued for the crash that injured King.

King’s cousin Lindsey Veni, of East Northport, said shortly after visiting him Tuesday at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip that King had brain surgery for more than nine hours after the crash. Veni said that while King, who works as a security guard for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, is unable to speak, he is stable and responsive.

"He’s nodding ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ ” Veni said of her cousin. "The doctors are saying it’s looking OK for now."

Veni said the lack of information being shared with the family and the public about the crash is concerning.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney deferred comment on the crash to Suffolk police, citing the ongoing investigation.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.