LI drunk driver sparks fatal crash, flees in public safety officer's vehicle: police

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A woman was charged Wednesday with causing a fatal crash on Long Island and attempting to flee the scene in a responding public safety officer's car, police said.

Rachel Lodice, 21, of Jericho was driving a Kia southbound on Hicksville Road and struck a Nissan Altima traveling eastbound on Sunrise Highway  at about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday in Massapequa, police said.

During the crash, a Town of Oyster Bay public safety officer was patrolling the area and stopped to help.

Lodice entered the officer’s car and fled the scene. She was later found and arrested.

A 64-year-old woman driving the Nissan suffered trauma and was transported to a local hospital. She was pronounced dead due to her injuries.

A 46-year-old passenger in the Nissan was also transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The victims' names were not given.

Lodice is charged with vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, leaving the scene of an incident, driving while intoxicated and grand larceny in the third degree.