Newsday reports, "A Woodmere woman poured lighter fluid on her estranged husband's baby and throughout his Hewlett Bay Park home in a failed attempt to kill him, his fiancee and the baby because she was angry over money and custodial issues." Esther Hershko was arrested on Wednesday, after neighbors noticed a strange car (her SUV) backed into another driveway. According to the Post, "Esther Hershko, who suffers from cancer and has been separated from her husband for six years," had poured Kingsford charcoal lighter fluid all over her husband's bedroom floor and "then calmly walked outside, possibly to retrieve more lighter fluid and matches or a lighter, all of which were found nearby." Apparently the fumes from the lighter fluid caused her estranged husband Itzhak Hershko's dog to go into seizures, which also alerted Itzhak Hershko. It's unclear whether Esther Hershko knew her son was also in the house, as well as the son's cousin. She was charged with five counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree burglary, second-degree attempted arson and fourth-degree. Itzhak Hershko said his baby is fine; the dog is also expected to recover.
Woman Douses Estranged Hubby's Baby With Lighter Fluid
Floor Mat of Doom Led to Hanukkah Party Crasher
Police are saying that a jammed-up floor mat by the driver side pedals set the stage for a freak accident that left 14 injured when Theodore Saretsky drove through the window of a Hanukkah party in Woodmere. After originally claiming that he thought there was a problem with his SUV's accelerator that led to the crash, now it appears that the mat got wedged between the gas and brake pedals. Nassau County Police spokesman Kevin Smith said, "The mat had slid up and started to roll up, almost like a roll of wrapping paper. Part of that roll was on top of the accelerator, and the other part was behind the brake, and it almost acted like a fulcrum. The harder he stepped down on the brake, the faster the car went. So he's confused by this, and as he looks down, his car veered left into a parked car, and then vaulted into the building." Meanwhile, today's Post credits one man, Dovi Faivish, as being the "modern-day Hanukkah miracle" hero that spotted the SUV about to crash through the party hall window and immediately moved children out of the way, potentially saving several lives. All 14 hospitalized are expected to survive.
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.

