Car runs into building in Stony Brook Village Center

BY LEAH CHIAPPINO LCHIAPPINO@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

It was a typical day before Mother’s Day Saturday at the Stony Brook Village Center, with shoppers enjoying the spring weather and gathering last-minute gifts. That is, until at 1:41 p.m. when “an 82-year-old woman was parking a 2009 Honda Accord when she lost control of the vehicle and struck the building” outside of Premiere Pastry Shop, police said. The section that was hit was the hallway patrons can walk through to get to the other side of the village complex, as well as into the shop.

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization president, Gloria Rocchio, said the woman was an “area resident” who was going to pick up mail.

“Instead of hitting the brakes, she hit the gas,” Rocchio said, noting that she saw the woman earlier in the day.

Rocchio said there was “structural damage” to the doorway and the “structure of the building.” Two rails and a fence post were also damaged.

“People were walking in the corridor because they use that a lot to go from one complex to another, but no one got hurt there either, as well as people in the store,” Rocchio said.

The pastry shop will be open again Wednesday, according to Rocchio. She expects the damage to be covered by the driver’s insurance carrier, but said WMHO is handling the construction.

Unfortunately, the shop lost much of its inventory, which was full for Mother’s Day.

“It was very crowded,” Rocchio said. “And of course, she had all of her goods — she was packed solid for Mother’s Day. And all of that product is lost. It’s devastating, frankly. One of her busiest days of the year.”

Police said minor injuries were reported at the scene but nobody was transported to the hospital. Rocchio said the driver declined to be taken to the hospital and just wanted to go home to her husband.

Ultimately, Rocchio was grateful no one was seriously hurt.

“We take it in stride,” she said.

A car crashed into a building in Stony Brook Village Center Saturday, May 13.

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police: Kings Park man arrested for taking photos of children without permission

Suffolk County Police arrested a Kings Park man on May 15 for allegedly taking pictures of children without consent at a Smithtown gymnastics school. Robert Colyvas entered Gold Medal Gymnastics Center, located at 253 West Main Street, on April 29 between 12:40 p.m. and 1 p.m. and allegedly took pictures of the staff and children without consent. Following an investigation by Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers, Colyvas was arrested at his home at 8:28 p.m. Colyvas, 29, of Orchard Drive in Kings Park, was charged with allegedly Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers at 631-854-8426.

Driver arrested for DWAI after crash at Commack gas station

Suffolk County Police arrested a Coram man for allegedly driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol after he crashed a vehicle into a gas station in Commack on May 10. Hunter Addonizio was driving a 2010 Dodge Challenger westbound on Veterans Memorial Highway, and attempted to merge onto Jericho Turnpike, when the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a gas pump and another vehicle at Sunoco, located at 2211 Jericho Turnpike, at approximately 11 p.m. A man and a woman, who were inside the vehicle that was struck, were transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of minor injuries. Addonizio, 21, of Hayes Lane in Coram, was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Alcohol.

ShotSpotter program meetings

The Suffolk County Police Department will host three community meetings to provide information and address concerns regarding the upcoming implementation of ShotSpotter in Suffolk County communities. The meetings will be held at the SCPD Second Precinct, located at 1071 Park Ave. in Huntington, on May 15 at 6 p.m.; at the Brentwood Public Library, located at 34 Second Ave. in Brentwood, on May 16 at 6 p.m.; and at the SCPD Sixth Precinct, located at 400 Route 25 in Selden, on May 17 at 6 p.m.

Caught On Camera

Groceries stolen from Stop & Shop

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the woman who allegedly stole items from Stop & Shop, located at 449 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma on April 1.

Wanted for petit larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole assorted items from Famous Footwear, located at 1770 Veterans Memorial Highway in Islandia, on April 17.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.