Police ID Woman In Fatal DWI Crash Where Woman Flees In Officer's Car

MASSAPEQUA, NY — Police have identified the woman, 64, who died after a Massapequa crash Tuesday night as Cynthia Mitchell of Freeport.

The other driver fled the scene after taking a public safety officer's car, Nassau County police said.

According to Nassau County police, the crash took place at t 6:45 p.m. Rachel Lodice, 21, of Jericho, was driving a 2023 Kia southbound on Hicksville Road and struck a 2022 Nissan Altima traveling eastbound on Sunrise Highway, police said.

The 64-year-old woman driving the Nissan suffered trauma and was transported to an area hospital; she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:34 p.m. by hospital staff, police said.

A 46-year-old female passenger of the Nissan was also transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

While on patrol, a Town of Oyster Bay public safety officer saw the crash and stopped to help, police said. Lodice entered his marked vehicle and fled the scene; she was located a short time later and arrested, police said.

Lodice was charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter; leaving the scene of an incident; driving while intoxicated; and third-degree grand larceny, police said. She was slated for arraignment on Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Sunrise Highway was closed in both directions from Forest Avenue and Hicksville Road after the crash, police said.