Coram Woman Charged with DWI After Middle Island Snowplow Crash

A 25-year-old Coram woman was seriously injured and charged with Driving While Intoxicated after her car crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a New York State Department of Transportation snowplow on Middle Country Road in Middle Island, Suffolk County police said. The collision occurred at about 5:20 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8, and remains under investigation.

Suffolk County Police identified the driver as Erika Jackson, who was operating a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Police say the Malibu was traveling westbound when it crossed into the eastbound lane and collided with an eastbound state-owned NYSDOT snowplow truck driven by Victor Rivera, 42, of Mastic Beach. Jackson was described as seriously injured and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment. Rivera sustained minor injuries and was taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk in Patchogue for evaluation and treatment.

Police charged Jackson with Driving While Intoxicated; she will be arraigned at a later date. “A criminal charge is an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.” Investigators impounded the Chevrolet for a safety check and said Motor Carrier Safety Section officers inspected the snowplow at the scene as part of the ongoing inquiry.

On-scene observations later that morning showed heavy damage. When reporters arrived around 11 a.m., a bulldozer had pulled the snowplow out of a snow bank on the south side of Middle Country Road, and the Chevrolet lay mangled in front of Middle Island Rental on the north side of the street. Police describe the collision point using a range of nearby landmarks; the crash was reported near 140 Middle Country Road and in front of the Hannah Mission Korean Presbyterian Church of Long Island, with on-scene damage near Middle Island Rental.

A DOT spokesperson declined to comment, citing the police investigation. Detectives from the Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad are asking anyone with information about the crash to call 631-854-8652.

The incident underscores enforcement and safety challenges on busy thoroughfares during winter operations. For residents and commuters who use Middle Country Road, the collision highlights risks posed when impaired driving intersects with municipal and state maintenance activities. Suffolk County Police will release more details as their investigation proceeds, and the arraignment of Erika Jackson will provide the next formal step in the legal process.