Community Corner

Holtsville Motorcyclist Injured, Woman Sought


Suffolk County police are looking for a female hit-and-run driver who fled the secene of a motorcycle accident in Selden that critically injured a Sachem East alum last week.

In a Newsday article, Sixth Squad Detective Tom O'Heir said it's unclear whether or not the driver they are seeking actually struck William Ventura, 22, of Holtsville, or simply struck his already downed motorcycle, but that she should have stayed at the scene and exchanged her information.

It all happened on July 3, when police say Ventura was riding a 2007 Suzuki motorcycle eastbound on Route 25 at around 9 p.m. when he rear-ended a Toyota 4Runner and slid to the ground.

As the driver of the 4Runner, Joanna Wudarkiewicz-Tarach, 44, stopped her vehicle, a second SUV struck the crash scene. The driver of that vehicle, described as a woman who looked to be about 50, got out and briefly spoke to Wudarkiewicz-Tarach before she got back in her vehicle and fled the scene without identifying herself or leaving any contact information. Wudarkiewicz-Tarach did not get the woman's license plate number, according to Det. O'Heir.

Ventura was taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center where was listed in critical condition. According to the article he is expected to survive and police do not suspect any criminal behavior related to the initial crash between Ventura and Wudarkiewicz-Tarach.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or the Sixth Squad Detectives at (631) 854-8652. All calls will be kept confidential.


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