By VICTORIA A. CARUSO
Gary Morris, of St. Mark's Avenue, was allegedly traveling eastbound on Sunrise Highway at about 10:10 p.m. when his 2001 Ford Expedition first sideswiped a gold 2001 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Ryan Miceli of Happauge, and then rammed into a black 2000 Pathfinder stopped in the left turning lane, according to police. The crash sent the black Pathfinder, occupied by John, Janice and Jonathan Lum of North Merrick, and the Expedition spinning into westbound Sunrise Highway.
Jennifer Petroro and Robert Cordeiro, both of Merrick, witnessed the accident. Petroro was waiting to make a right turn onto Merrick Avenue from westbound Sunrise Highway, while Cordeiro waited to cross over Sunrise Highway from north Merrick Avenue. Both of the sports-utility vehicles came to a stop in the middle and left lane of westbound Sunrise Highway, less than 10 feet from Petroro's car.
"The Expedition barreled into the SUV," said Petroro, "and spun it like three times." Petroro also said that she pulled over to see if she could help the driver of the Expedition, but he got out the front passenger door and walked across Sunrise Highway to the Exxon gas station. "The police had to go in there and get him," she said.
According to Seventh Precinct police, Morris was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he was later arrested. He is charged with driving while intoxicated and was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead.
Lynn Wirtenson, a passenger in Miceli's vehicle, and Janice Lum, were both taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside. They were treated and released. John Lum and his son, Jonathan, were transported to Nassau University Medical Center. John Lum was treated and released; Jonathan was admitted and, as of press time, was listed in stable condition.
Bystanders at the crash site said that accidents are common at the Merrick Avenue/Sunrise Highway intersection. "This is a total death trap," said Edward Meyer of Merrick. "A lot of people die on this road."
Meyer, who has lived south of Sunrise Highway since 1975, said his three sons were never allowed to walk across Sunrise. "They either had to get a ride or forget about going," he said. "It's way too dangerous to cross. Once you get to that half-way point, you better be a damn good street-crosser to get across."
Another Merrick resident, who did not wish to be identified, agreed, saying, "You can't hesitate for five seconds when crossing. If you do, you'll never make it across on the green, especially if a car is turning."
Over the past few months, concern for unsafe conditions at Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway has grown among civic activists and parents. Less than three months ago, a hit-and-run driver killed 14-year-old Dustin Freda as he was crossing Sunrise Highway there.
Residents living south of Sunrise Highway with children attending Merrick Avenue Middle School or Calhoun High School recently asked the Bellmore-Merrick Central District to look into designating the intersection as a Child Safety Zone or changing the district's transportation policies to provide busing to all students who have to cross Sunrise Highway to get to school.
Meyer said it takes numerous situations such as last Friday's accident before people realize how dangerous the intersection is. "They're out of their mind if they think people are just going to slow down," he said. "It takes an accident for someone to do something. And in the case of this intersection, it's going to take 150."
