What Happened
Two unrelated crashes involving children unfolded in North Lindenhurst and Lindenhurst within less than 24 hours of each other, leaving three people hospitalized — including an 8-year-old girl and a 63-year-old woman — according to Babylon Beacon, which first reported the story on July 15, 2026.
The first incident occurred at approximately 2:34 p.m. on Monday, July 14, in North Lindenhurst. Patrice Mitchem, 62, of Amityville, was operating a 2010 Chrysler van westbound on Spiegelhagen Street. As she turned left onto Wellwood Avenue, the van struck two pedestrians who were in or entering the roadway. One of those pedestrians, Chasity Sandiford, 8, of Lindenhurst, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip. The second pedestrian, Leanna Duggan, 20, also of Lindenhurst, was taken to the same hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, per Babylon Beacon’s report. Mitchem was not injured in the collision. Suffolk County Police impounded her van for a safety inspection following the crash.
The second incident unfolded the following morning — Tuesday, July 15 — at a private residence on Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst. According to detectives, an 8-year-old child entered a parked 2016 Honda in the home’s driveway and pushed the vehicle’s start button. The Honda began rolling down the driveway toward the roadway. The child’s grandmother, Gina Bente, 63, saw what was happening and attempted to get inside the moving vehicle to stop it. As she reached for the car, the driver’s side door struck her, causing her to fall and strike her head on the pavement. The Honda continued rolling out of the driveway, crossed into the roadway, and came to a stop only after hitting a curb. Bente was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in serious condition. The child was not injured in the incident, as Babylon Beacon reported.
Both incidents — while unrelated — shared Wellwood Avenue as a common geographic thread, occurred less than 24 hours apart, and sent all three injured victims to the same hospital. Suffolk County Police First Squad detectives are actively investigating both crashes.
Location & Road Context
Both crashes center on Wellwood Avenue, a busy north-south arterial running through Lindenhurst and North Lindenhurst in the Town of Babylon. The first collision occurred at the intersection of Spiegelhagen Street and Wellwood Avenue in North Lindenhurst, a turn that requires drivers to cross or yield to pedestrian traffic. The second incident happened at a residential driveway directly on Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst. The corridor sees significant local traffic and connects to commercial and residential areas throughout the Babylon Township. For current traffic conditions on nearby routes, see our Southern State Parkway coverage.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County Police First Squad detectives are investigating both crashes. No charges have been publicly announced as of the initial report. The 2010 Chrysler van driven by Mitchem was impounded following the July 14 pedestrian strike for a mandatory safety inspection, a standard step in serious pedestrian crash investigations. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the July 14 crash at Spiegelhagen Street and Wellwood Avenue to contact the First Squad at 631-854-8152.
Broader Impact
The second crash highlights a recurring danger with keyless push-button ignitions in unattended vehicles, particularly when children are present. A 2016 Honda equipped with a push-button start can be activated without a key fob in the ignition slot — a feature that, in vehicles left unsecured, creates a specific hazard when curious children gain access. Families with keyless-start vehicles are advised by safety experts to store key fobs out of a child’s reach and to engage the parking brake as an added precaution against unintended vehicle movement.