Suffolk County Police have arrested a man for driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle crash that killed one passenger and seriously injured another in North Babylon on Sunday, August 18.
David Valles was driving a 1987 Ford Mustang on Bay Shore Road, near Duke Street, when the vehicle veered off the roadway and struck a pole at 6:09 p.m.
A male passenger, now identified John McHale, 67, of North Babylon, was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger, now identified as Patricia Leahy, 54, of East Islip, was transported with serious injuries to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip. Valles was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore with non-life-threatening injuries.
Valles, 31, of North Babylon, was arrested and charged with DWI.
The vehicle was impounded for a safety check. Major Case Unit detectives are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Major Case at 631-852-6555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.