A woman was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital this evening for treatment of a head injury after the Honda minivan she was riding in crashed in the woods on the eastbound L.I. expressway, west of exit 71.
The driver of the Honda told police he swerved to avoid another eastbound vehicle that cut him off. The Honda hit a guard rail in the center median and then crossed the three eastbound lanes and drove off the roadway into the woods on the south side of the road.
Riverhead Fire Department heavy rescue responded to cut down some trees in order to allow emergency medical workers access to the Honda’s passengers.
The injured woman, who was the sister of the driver, was sitting in the third seat of the minivan. The driver, his wife and their two teenage children were not hurt. He told police the family was traveling from Queens to Riverhead on a shopping excursion to Tanger Outlets.
The eastbound LIE was closed at exit 70, to allow emergency crews to work at the scene and provide a landing zone for the Suffolk County Police helicopter.
Manorville Community Ambulance responded and treated the victim at the scene.
Reporting and photos by Peter Blasl
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