Long Island crossing guard hit by pickup truck in Merrick

A crossing guard who was hit while shoveling snow on Long Island has been hospitalized in critical condition, sources said.

Police allege the man behind the wheel was high on drugs when he caused the crash. 

The incident happened near the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station on Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway.   

Driver was allegedly asleep moments before crash

Joshua Alvarado, 30, of Rosedale, Queens faces numerous charges, including driving while ability impaired and vehicular assault. 

The crossing guard, 70, was shoveling snow when he was struck, a witness said. 

"He was shoveling snow when someone apparently wasn't paying attention and hit him," Merrick resident Salvatore Luparello said. 

Police say Alvarado crashed his pickup truck into the part-time crossing guard during the heart of the morning rush hour, around 8 a.m. Thursday. 

Alvarado fell asleep at the wheel moments before, and was woken up when other cars started honking their horns, police said. 

"Came into the turn to go northbound on Merrick Avenue, he swung the turn far right, jumped the sidewalk and struck our crossing guard," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. 

"This is unbelievable" 

Alvarado failed the field sobriety test at the scene, and another at headquarters, according to police. 

"This driving while you're high, driving while you're drunk, has got to stop," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. "This is unbelievable - 8 a.m. and you're so high on drugs that makes you fall asleep." 

The crossing guard's name has not yet been released, but Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said he worked his first career as a tugboat operator and chose this as his second. 

"Someone who went out, each and every day, with the thought of protecting our young people, children that were going to and from school," Blakeman said. 

"He is so friendly"

Neighbors said he was a steady presence at one of the most dangerous intersections in town. 

"He was here with a smile, he would always be saying hi," one person said. 

"If he sees me, he helps me cross too, and makes sure everyone is safe," Merrick resident Michael Shapiro said. 

The manager of a gas station across the street said he spoke with the crossing guard almost every day over the last few years. 

"He is so friendly," Jawfer Jan said. "He used to buy some presents once in a while for his grandson." 

A blood test will determine the drugs Alvarado allegedly took. 

Alvarado will be arraigned Friday.