14 Injured After SUV Crashes into Hanukkah Party

A 76-year-old man driving an SUV crashed the vehicle into a building where a children's Hanukkah party was being held. The accident took place on Long Island, in Woodmere, around 2:45 p.m. yesterday. Fourteen people were injured, a dozen of them children. Two children are in critical but stable condition at Nassau University Hospital.

Apparently the driver, psychiatrist Theodore Saretsky, lost control of the car and drove through the plate glass window of a party hall. Nassau County Police's Lt. Kevin Smith said, "He makes an abrupt left turn. It actually forces the car that's parked along the side of the road up on to the sidewalk. His car careens through several plate glass windows, enters the building and comes to rest after basically running over ... several people." A witness told the Daily News, "The car went airborne briefly. It was crazy."

Police say that evidence indicates Saretsky "did not have a medical problem but made a claim regarding the SUV's accelerator," according to Newsday.

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By Jen Chung in News on December 26, 2008 10:25 AM

Comments [rss]

Rocknrope

I blame Madoff.

Snoopy

It's the old "AUDI" syndrome comes alive again. I can see the gas pedal and the steering wheel linkage are directly connected by a rusted old hulk of a driver. He was probably high on angel dust or crack. Those Russians can't handle their medications.

Spirit of 76

Where's Stephen King when you need him? He could write up a novel about a demon SUV. Christine wouldn't stand a chance.

Splicer

I hate when SUVs suddenly come to life and turn evil like this. The driver is lucky to have walked away without being eaten by the demon car.

nik13

LOL at "accelerator did it" defense. Maybe it was a malfunctioning steering wheel that made an abrupt left turn on its own?

ides_of_march

It will never happen because senior citizens are a solid voting block but there are a lot of them that should have their driving licences revoked as the effects of aging deteriorate their driving skills and reflexes.

Also, there needs to be a separate class of licence for SUVs as there are for trucks. It's clearly a vehicle that many drivers simply can't handle regardless of their age.

drewo

Police say that evidence indicates Saretsky "did not have a medical problem but made a claim regarding the SUV's accelerator,"

The old "gas pedal got stuck" excuse -- works every time.

Lautaro

As potentially tragic as an incident like this is, I'm glad to hear that people can still come together and do what needs to be done. 30 people lifted that SUV off the man trapped underneath. Wow.