Man Critically Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash

Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a single-vehicle crash that critically injured a man in Fort Salonga,  August 18, 2016 in early morning.

Samuel Luby was driving a 2016 Dodge pickup westbound on Fort Salonga Road at approximately 7:55 a.m.  August 18, 2016 when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree just west of Makamah Road.  The Northport Fire Department responded to a single car motor vehicle accident on the north side of Fort Salonga Road just west of Makamah Road in Northport. Upon arrival the first units found a seriously injured middle aged male driver Samuel Luby in a late model Ram pickup truck, pinned in the vehicle by the dashboard and steering wheel.

Under the command of Chief of Department Brad Wine, 1^st Assistant Chief John Jacobsen and 2^nd Assistant Chief Dennis Sheridan, EMS personnel immediately initiated life saving measures while firefighters joined by two Suffolk County Emergency Service police officers began the extrication process. Utilizing multiple extrication tools the Ram truck was cut apart to allow access to the driver. With the extrication process complete, EMS personnel stabilized the driver to prevent further injury by movement.  The driver was moved to an awaiting Northport Fire Department ambulance.

Due to the nature of the injuries sustained by the driver, EMS personnel recommended he be transported to Stony Brook University Hospital which is a level one trauma center for the region.  Suffolk County Police Department Aviation Bureau was requested.  The Norwood Ave Elementary School in Northport was designated as the landing zone for the helicopter.

Additional Northport Fire Department equipment and personnel responded to the Norwood Avenue Elementary School along with police personnel to secure the landing zone.  The driver, Luby, 46, of Ellis Ave., Northport, was transferred from the fire department ambulance to the awaiting police helicopter and airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition.  Chief Wine stated all fire department and police department responders did an excellent job in handling this challenging driver extrication.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check and the investigation is continuing.  Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.