What Happened
An 8-year-old boy struck his grandmother with her own car in Lindenhurst on the morning of Monday, July 13, 2026, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. The incident prompted an investigation by Suffolk County Police First Squad detectives, who responded to the scene.
According to the SCPD press release, the child entered his grandmother’s 2016 Honda — apparently without her knowledge or permission — and operated the vehicle, ultimately striking her. The exact sequence of events, including where in Lindenhurst it occurred and whether the vehicle was parked in a driveway or on a street at the time, has not been detailed in the official release.
The grandmother sustained injuries as a result of being struck. The incident has been classified as moderate in severity. Police have not yet publicly confirmed the extent of her injuries or whether she was transported to a hospital following the crash.
Neither the child’s name nor the grandmother’s name has been released by authorities, which is consistent with standard practice when a juvenile is centrally involved in an incident. The Suffolk County Police Department did not indicate in its initial release whether any other family members were present at the time.
Location & Road Context
Lindenhurst is a densely populated hamlet in the Town of Babylon in western Suffolk County, situated south of Sunrise Highway and north of the Great South Bay. It is a predominantly residential community with a mix of surface streets and private driveways — the typical setting for incidents where a child gains unauthorized access to a family vehicle. Long Island Traffic’s local database currently tracks 612 recorded accidents in Suffolk County, reflecting the county’s consistently high volume of roadway and vehicle-related incidents.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County Police First Squad detectives have opened a formal investigation into the crash. No charges have been announced in connection with the incident. Because the individual who operated the vehicle is 8 years old, New York’s juvenile justice statutes — which generally do not treat children under 12 as criminally responsible — would apply. The investigation is ongoing.
Broader Impact
Incidents in which young children access and operate family vehicles are more common than many households anticipate. In New York, children under 7 must be secured in a federally approved child safety seat, and leaving a running or accessible vehicle unattended around young children carries civil liability risk even when no criminal charge applies. Families in Suffolk County with young children are encouraged to store vehicle keys out of reach and to use steering wheel locks or other secondary immobilizers as a precaution.