Police Issue 'Numerous' Tickets after Car Show Causes Two-Hour Traffic Jam

Reports of severe traffic congestion at Wellwood Avenue and Route 109 mid-afternoon on Palm Sunday were caused by a car show at a local business that drew more people than it was prepared to handle, according to Suffolk Police.

According to Inspector Gerard Gigante, commanding officer of the First Precinct, the incident on March 24 at that already busy intersection involved a large gathering near 965-967 Wellwood Avenue at a business called PetrolWerks, a general automotive repair and modification company that put together a car show for that day.

"A business owner had an assembly permit for 150 participants for a car show. Somehow word got out, and more than 1,000 people showed up from all over Long Island and New York City with their show cars," Gigante told Lindenhurst Patch in an e-mail.

A post from PetrolWerks' website touted the event, called March Madness, as "a huge gathering of the finest cars/trucks in the New York region."

The inspector said the vehicles that came for the show parked illegally along Wellwood Avenue and the surrounding streets, blocking traffic in the area.

"It took about 20 police officers and about two hours to restore normal traffic flow," Gigante explained.

"Numerous traffic tickets were issued, and we were assisted by New York State Police," he noted.

Connect: Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Blogging | Posting Photos | Announcements | Events