Watch CBS News

Cops Still Searching For Second L.I. Truck Drag Racer

SYOSSET, N.Y. (CBS 2) -- An elderly man is dead, and his wife is fighting for her life -- both of them victims of a head-on collision that police said was caused by drag racers.

From the looks of the mangled Mercedes, it's hard to believe either of the occupants survived Monday's crash.  Only one did -- the driver: 84-year-old Lucille Jacobs. CBS 2's John Slattery spoke to a woman who works for the family's accounting firm.

"Everything's broken. Neck's broken. Legs broken," the woman said.

The husband, 86-year-old Myron Jacobs, was killed in the crash. Police told Slattery the incident happened on Jericho Turnpike, when a dump truck, operated by a landscaping company, crossed the center line, went out of control and plowed into the Jacobs' car head-on.

Investigators said the driver of the truck, 32-year-old Everado Nieto of the Bronx, was drunk. A bottle of vodka was in the truck. Two of his family members attended his arraignment.

Police said the landscaper and the driver of another landscaping truck were both at a stop light.  When the signal changed, they both floored it.

"When the light turned green, a witness says, both trucks took off at an accelerated rate of speed.  He described it as drag-racing," Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Kevin Smith said.

Nieto was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, reckless driving and driving under the influence. The driver of the other truck did not stop.

The collision points up the inherent danger in drag-racing, made even worse if the vehicle that goes out of control, is a truck.

The suspect's driver's license was suspended last year for 90 days after he was caught driving under the influence in Queens. On Tuesday he was being held on $500,000 bond.

Police said they still looking for the driver of the other truck.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.