On-duty Suffolk County police sergeant seriously injured in Shirley crash; investigators probe

An on-duty Suffolk County Police sergeant, Sgt. Wayne Kelly, 46, suffered serious injuries after a northbound 2008 Honda Odyssey turned left onto Ridgewood Drive and struck his southbound, unmarked 2017 Chevrolet Impala at the intersection of William Floyd Parkway and Ridgewood Drive in Shirley at about 12:55 p.m. The collision sent Sgt. Kelly by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital with "serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries."

The driver of the Odyssey, identified as Cristian Guartatanga Carchipulla, 40, of Shirley, was transported to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. Detectives from the Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit responded to the scene and "are investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash." Police said, "Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check, which is standard procedure in serious crashes involving injury." Police also said, "No charges were filed, police said."

The intersection was closed while investigators gathered evidence and spoke with witnesses, and both vehicles remained in police custody for examination. Authorities did not immediately release additional details about road or weather conditions, whether any summonses were issued, or whether any in‑car or intersection cameras captured the collision. Members of the public with information were urged to contact the Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.

The crash has renewed local attention to safety on William Floyd Parkway, a busy north-south artery used daily by commuters, school traffic and commercial vehicles. The collision occurred within days of another high-profile incident on the same roadway: a fatal hit-and-run that left one man dead and another hospitalized, an arrest and a subsequent arraignment in Central Islip. Authorities have not connected the two cases, but residents and local officials have expressed concern about traffic patterns and intersection controls along the corridor.

For Shirley residents, the immediate impact includes the disruption from the investigation and a reminder of the potential risks at major crossings. The impoundment and Major Case Unit probe mean police will take time to reconstruct the sequence of events before releasing fuller findings. Medical privacy rules limit what hospitals will confirm about Sgt. Kelly’s condition beyond the description provided by police.

What comes next for readers is clarification: expect an official police collision report, possible release of video or reconstruction results, and an update on whether any citations or charges will be issued as the Major Case Unit completes its review. Anyone who saw the crash or has dash camera footage is asked to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.