3 Dead, 4 Hurt In Head-One Collision On Long Island

MEDFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Three people were killed and four more were injured late Monday in a crash in Medford, Long Island.

Among the injured were two boys ages 1 and 11.

"This is a severe crash. It's not often that we have a crash that results in three fatalities," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "So this is certainly one of the more significant crashes of the year."

Suffolk County police said Dominick Lopez, 20, of Shirley, was driving his 1995 red Honda Civic on Station Road south of Sills Road around 4:25 p.m. when he crossed the double yellow line and collided with a northbound 2016 Nissan Pathfinder.

Lopez and his passenger, Derek Buffa, 23, of Mastic Beach, were ejected from the vehicle and both were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A rear-seat passenger in the Nissan – Aida Cardenas, 67, of Selden – was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Medical Center in East Patchogue where she was pronounced dead, police said.

The driver of the Pathfinder, a 41-year-old man, and his 33-year-old wife – both of Bellport – were taken to Brookhaven Memorial and were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The couple's 1-year-old son, a rear passenger in the Pathfinder, was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook. Their 11-year-old son, also in the back of the Pathfinder, was taken by helicopter to Stony Brook, police said.

The boys were both treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Lopez and Buffa were part of a campaign to bring a drag racing track to Long Island, Hall reported.