2 Seriously Injured In Nassau Crash That Splits Car In Half

MINEOLA, NY — Two people were seriously injured in a three-car crash in Nassau County early Sunday, police said.

At about 3 a.m., a 27-year-old man was driving a Lexus sedan east on Jericho Turnpike at the intersection of Willis Avenue when it crashed into a Chevrolet SUV being driven by a 38-year-old man.

The SUV then crashed into a Jeep SUV driven by a 26-year-old woman, and the Lexus continued on, crashing into a fence and two businesses on Jericho Turnpike before coming to a stop, police said.

The driver of the Lexus and a 28-year-old woman riding with him were taken to area hospitals with serious injuries, according to police. Two other people involved in the crash were also transported to area hospitals, but with minor injuries, police said.

The Mineola Fire Department responded to the scene and observed "a vehicle that had split into two parts, one part overturned into a building with occupants trapped and the other part was engulfed in flames," the department posted on its Facebook page.

A portion of Jericho Turnpike was closed for more than 12 hours as detectives investigated the crash.