Crime & Safety

Car Fire Closes LIE Exit Ramp at Route 111

Suffolk County police and Sheriff's Department close down portion of major intersection at rush hour.

A blazing car fire at the Expressway Drive North and Route 111 intersection snarled rush hour traffic on Tuesday evening. 

Hauppauge firefighters responded to a call of  minivan on fire on the wooded southeast corner of the Expressway Drive North and Route 111/Wheeler Road intersection at approximately 4:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. 

Suffolk County police said a man driving a green minivan had his brakes fail, causing him to swerve and crash into the embankment of the LIE overpass. The driver managed to escape the blaze with no injuries. 

Find out what's happening in Hauppaugewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police were forced to close down the westbound Long Island Expressway's Exit 56 - Route 111/Wheeler Road exit ramp for roughly a half hour. The serviced road was also limited down to one lane as firefighters extinguished the blazes. 

Police reported that there were no serious injuries as result of the fire. Central Islip-Hauppauge volunteer ambulance responded to the scene of the accident. 

Find out what's happening in Hauppaugewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The driver of the minivan, who's name has not been released by police, received a summons for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Our special thanks to reader Jared Groneman for pictures of the blaze. Have photos of an event in Hauppauge you're willing to share? Email sara-megan.walsh@patch.com. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.