Crime & Safety

Two of Four Charges Dropped in Ocean Parkway Crash

The Nassau County District Attorney's office has decided to drop two of the four charges against a Merrick man who was involved in a head-on crash on Ocean Parkway Tuesday night. 

Troopers initially said the head-on crash happened when a GMC Yukon traveling west on the Parkway between the Jones Beach Tower and TOBAY Beach crossed over the center median into the eastbound lanes. They said it struck a Honda driven by 62-year-old Yuk Sung, of Oakdale. The driver of the GMC, 19-year-old Cody Becker of Merrick, was subsequently arrested.

But in a news release issued Friday, state police said further investigation by their Collision Reconstruction Unit "indicated that the Honda, driven by Sung, crossed over the median entering the westbound lane into the path of the GMC."

According to police, "Both vehicles swerved in an apparent attempt to avoid the collision, traveled into the center median and hit head on. The Honda came to rest in the center median and the Yukon came to rest in the eastbound lane of the Ocean Parkway."

Troopers said Sung suffered serious injuries, while Becker and his passenger were treated for minor injuries. 

Initially, Becker was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree vehicular assault, driving while ability impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana. The District Attorney's office has dropped the reckless endangerment and vehicular assault charges until the investigation is completed.

"We are also moving to have the bail reduced to being [released on his own recognizance]," Shams Tarek from the DA's office said. 


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