On Sunday morning June 22, 2008, at 2:35 AM, the driver and passenger were seriously injured when the vehicle they were in hit a tree on Sunrise Highway, west of Ocean Avenue, and overturned trapping the occupants for a short time before being freed by passing Nassau County Police Emergency Services Unit (ESU) officers.

The Lynbrook Fire Department, under the command of Chief John O’Reilly, also responded to the scene with an ambulance from the Emergency Medical Company.  The department’s Extrication Team also responded to assist.

The Nassau PD ESU officers were driving on Sunrise Highway just after the crash and rendered assistance immediately.  The vehicle had been heading westbound on Sunrise Highway when it ran off the highway and struck a tree along the LIRR embankment fencing.  The vehicle drove up the tree and then flipped back over on its top.  When the ESU officers arrived at the scene the driver’s hand and part of his arm was pinned under the overturned roof.  The officers were able to lift the vehicle and get the man’s injured arm out.  They, with the help of Lynbrook police officers, then helped the two from the vehicle. 

Lynbrook’s Emergency Medical Company rendered first aid and stabilized one of the occupants while the East Rockaway Fire Department responded on a mutual aid with an ambulance and stabilized the second person.  Both occupants were placed on stretchers and transported to the hospital.