What Happened
A Valley Stream man was arrested for driving while intoxicated Monday night after triggering a three-car chain-reaction crash on a major Lindenhurst roadway, according to News 12 Long Island.
Muhammad Adrees, 56, of Valley Stream, was behind the wheel of a 2010 Lexus SUV, traveling southbound on North Wellwood Avenue around 9 p.m. on Monday, July 14, 2026. As the Lexus approached Perry Street in Lindenhurst, Adrees rear-ended a 2011 Toyota sedan that was ahead of him, Suffolk County police say. The force of that initial impact was enough to push the Toyota forward into the rear of a 2008 Chevrolet sedan, creating a three-vehicle pileup.
The driver of the Toyota sedan sustained injuries in the collision and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Those injuries were described as minor. No occupants of the Lexus or the Chevrolet were reported hurt, according to News 12 Long Island.
Following the crash, Adrees was taken into custody by Suffolk County police. He was not immediately charged at the scene; instead, authorities indicated he would be formally charged with DWI at his arraignment scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, 2026.
Location & Road Context
North Wellwood Avenue is a primary north-south arterial running through Lindenhurst in western Suffolk County, connecting residential neighborhoods to commercial corridors and serving as a significant local commuting route. The stretch approaching Perry Street is a mixed-use area with a combination of storefronts, side-street intersections, and moderate evening traffic volumes. Southbound travel on this corridor at 9 p.m. is typical for commuters and residents returning home, making impaired driving on this stretch particularly dangerous to other motorists and pedestrians.
Lindenhurst has experienced a troubling pattern of serious crashes in recent months. Just one day prior to this incident, a grandmother was seriously injured after her 8-year-old grandchild struck her with a car in the area. A woman was injured in a crash into a church in North Lindenhurst in May 2026, and a Lindenhurst man killed in a car accident was honored with a fundraiser earlier in July.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County police took Adrees into custody at the scene following the Monday night collision. Rather than processing a roadside charge, authorities opted to bring the DWI charge formally at arraignment, which was scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, 2026, per News 12 Long Island’s reporting. No additional charges — such as reckless driving or vehicular assault — were cited in the initial report, though investigators may add charges depending on the results of blood-alcohol testing conducted during or after Adrees’s arrest. The investigation was handled by the Suffolk County Police Department.
What This DWI Charge Means
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law §1192, there are several levels of impaired-driving offense. A DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) charge applies when a driver’s ability is impaired by alcohol but their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) falls below 0.08%. A standard DWI charge — the one Adrees faces — requires a BAC of 0.08% or higher. An Aggravated DWI charge applies when a driver’s BAC reaches 0.18% or above, carrying significantly steeper penalties.
For a first-offense DWI conviction in New York, a driver faces fines ranging from $500 to $1,000, a mandatory minimum six-month license revocation, possible jail time of up to one year, and a required ignition interlock device on any vehicle they own or operate. Repeat offenses escalate rapidly: a second DWI within ten years is a Class E felony, with fines up to $5,000 and up to four years in prison. New York’s implied consent law also means that drivers who refuse a chemical test face an automatic one-year license revocation and a $500 civil penalty — consequences that apply regardless of whether the driver is ultimately convicted of DWI.
Case Status & Updates
It is important to note that an arrest and a criminal charge constitute an accusation, not a conviction. Muhammad Adrees is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. His case is expected to proceed through arraignment in a Suffolk County district court, followed by pretrial proceedings in the Long Island criminal court system. Outcomes — including any plea agreements, trial results, or sentencing — will determine the final legal consequences Adrees faces.
Long Island Traffic monitors DWI cases through the courts and will update this report as arraignment outcomes, pleas, and sentencing information become part of the public record. Readers with information about this incident can also follow coverage from News 12 Long Island.