Man Caught Speeding At 126 MPH On LIE, Charged With DWI

There's speeding, and then there's speeding. Early Sunday morning, Nassau County Police arrested Joseph Melendez after he was caught speeding on the Long Island Expressway at speeds of 122 mph and 126 mph. The police said, "During the process of following and bringing Melendez to a stop, other motorists on the road were observed being forced to take evasive action in order to avoid becoming involved in a collision."

According to Newsday, Melendez, 26, who was traveling west, was first caught going 122 mph between exits 46 and 44 around 12:30 a.m., and then he was near exit 41 at 126 mph. Finally, police were able to stop him at exit 34. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and 10 traffic violations.

Last month, two men were arrested for drag racing, at speeds around 140 mph, on the LIE.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 25, 2011 2:15 PM

Comments [rss]

PicoPhreako69

HolySweetJeebusMutherofGawdd.... o_0

That's just wrong. Even if he WASN'T DWI to begin with.
Yeah - revocation for LIFE.

And maybe Chinese-style eunuch-ization thrown in for good measure (wherein his ENTIRE package is removed and he ends up having to pee through a straw).
Idiot.

FMH6969

The lie is always like that, whenever I'm choopering back and forth from the hamptons I glance earthward and often see cars in groups of 2,3 or 4 racing along. At any rate I'm furious, there is no way you should be able to go as fast as my chopper!

Guest

My Cessna is lucky if it hits 126 KIAS in a decent.

Gwinny

damn bike lanes!

Ross Bennett Brown

+1

Ross Bennett Brown

+1

sharpshoota

Long Island....DWI capital of the world.

pazzo83

I don't see the big deal. Cabbies routinely hit those speeds driving up and down 1st and 2nd Aves.

JoeyBagadonuts

hey - if the lights are timed for 27 mph, they're also timed for 54 mph, right?

Harlem Rat

interesting...I won't try this or anything

cr17

This guy should never be allowed to drive again. End of story.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

What car was he driving? That's NASCAR speed at some tracks.
I remember the rodney king case and his Hyundai, they were saying it went 100mph or something. I don't know about you but I was in a Hyundai Excel and it barely got up to 60mph without laboring.

Politburo

An evo per one of the articles. ETA: per both articles, actually.

Peanut_Butter

You people are much too kind. Summary execution, no due process.

virgilstarkwell

people on long island are weird about cars.

Roger_the_Shrubber

Scumbag.

If you were doing 60 mph and this idiot slammed into you from behind it's as if you were parked and somebody slammed into you doing 66 mph.

Lock this piece of shit up for a long time.