Long Island ambulette driver accused of driving patient while drunk
ROOSEVELT, Long Island (WABC) -- Police on Long Island arrested an ambulette driver who they was drunk while moving a patient.
Authorities say 45-year-old Pedro Aponte, of Brooklyn, was drunk while driving a "Life Care" ambulette with a dialysis patient inside. He was reportedly taking the patient from Queens to a treatment center in Nassau County.
The ambulette was involved in a pair of accidents, police said, after Aponte hit two utility poles. The first happened at East Greenwich Avenue near Nassau Road, with Aponte allegedly fleeing the scene. The ambulette later hit another pole in the 500 block of East Greenwich Avenue, police said.
Officers said they responded and discovered the heavily damaged ambulette, a broken utility pole, a parked vehicle that was damaged, and Aponte lying on the ground next to the ambulette.
Aponte was intoxicated, police said, and he was taken into custody and driven to an area hospital.
The 77-year-old patient suffered non-life threatening injuries to his ribs and was also hospitalized.
Aponte is charged with two counts of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired, driving while ability impaired (drugs), and two counts of leaving the scene of an incident.
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Roosevelt, NY - June 27, 2017 - First Precinct officers report the arrest of a Brooklyn man for incidents that occurred on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 9:46 am in Roosevelt.
According to officers, Pedro Aponte, 45, while driving a “Life Care” ambulette and transporting a dialysis patient from his home in Queens to a treatment center in Nassau County, was involved in multiple accidents.
Officers received a call regarding an ambulette that struck a utility pole and left the scene on E. Greenwich Avenue near Nassau Road. While investigating that incident, another 911 call was dispatched for an ambulette that struck another utility pole in front of 250 E. Greenwich Avenue. Officers responded to that scene and came upon the heavily damaged ambulette, a fractured utility pole, damage to a parked vehicle and Aponte who was lying on the ground next to the ambulette.
Aponte, after a subsequent investigation, was found to be in an intoxicated condition, was placed into custody and taken to an area hospital for evaluation regarding the possibility of additional drug usage and for his complaints of chest pain.
The patient, a 77 year old male, during the collisions, suffered non-life threatening injuries to his ribs and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Aponte, who was admitted to the hospital, is charged with two (2) counts of Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Ability Impaired (Combination-Alcohol/Drugs), Driving While Ability Impaired (Drugs), and two (2) counts of Leaving the Scene of an Incident. He will be arraigned when practical.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.