Staten Island, NY (July 19, 2026) – A two-car collision late at night at the Bricktown Shopping Center in Charleston sent firefighters and EMS crews to the scene and ended with one driver facing a driving while intoxicated charge, according to the NYPD.
The crash was reported at approximately 10:45 p.m. near the intersection of Bricktown Way and Veterans Road West, according to an NYPD spokesperson. Two vehicles were involved: a gray Subaru Legacy and a white Mazda3 sedan.
The driver of the Subaru told a reporter at the scene that he had been leaving the Target parking lot and making a left turn when the other vehicle struck him from the side, causing his car to spin. The Subaru came to rest perpendicular to the roadway with heavy damage to its right front wheel.
The white Mazda3 sustained extensive front-end damage. Its airbags deployed, its windshield cracked, and its rear bumper detached. Debris from the vehicle scattered across the area. The Mazda crossed a curb before coming to a stop on the bike path leading to Fairview Park.
Firefighters responded after the crash was initially reported as a collision with people trapped. After firefighters cleared the scene, an ambulance arrived, and EMS personnel evaluated both drivers for injuries.
At about 11:25 p.m., officers arrived and interviewed both drivers. An officer administered a breathalyzer to the Mazda driver using a handheld device, according to the NYPD. The Mazda driver, a 22-year-old Staten Island man, was subsequently accused of driving while intoxicated, police said.
The extent of injuries in the crash had not been released by the NYPD at the time of publication.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Drunk Driving Accidents in Staten Island, NY
A DWI arrest runs on a criminal track. A civil personal injury claim runs separately, and it belongs to the person who was struck. One does not wait for the other, and waiting can cost evidence.
- See a doctor right away, even without visible injuries at the scene. Adrenaline can mask whiplash, soft tissue damage, and concussion symptoms for hours or days after a crash. Documented medical care creates the record a personal injury claim depends on.
- Do not speak to the other driver’s insurance company before consulting an attorney. Adjusters are trained to limit payouts, and early statements can be used to reduce what you recover.
- Preserve all available evidence now: photographs of the vehicle damage and debris pattern, the bike path where the Mazda came to rest, and the intersection itself. Shopping center security footage and any dashcam recordings are time-sensitive and can be overwritten quickly.
- Do not accept any settlement before an attorney reviews the case. DWI crashes can support a punitive damages claim on top of compensatory damages, and an early settlement often forfeits that entirely.
Under New York law, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim (CPLR § 214). This crash occurred on July 19, 2026, which puts that deadline at July 19, 2029. Evidence weakens and witnesses become harder to locate the longer a claim sits.
Contact Our Staten Island Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
Being struck by a driver suspected of DWI puts you in an unexpected position: dealing with vehicle damage, an injury that may not have fully shown itself yet, and a legal process that moves forward whether you act or not. Having someone focused on your civil claim from the start makes a real difference.
Our drunk driving accident attorneys serving Staten Island have handled DWI crash cases across New York City and recovered more than $900 million for injured New Yorkers. These cases often carry a punitive damages component that standard car accident claims do not, and an attorney who secures the NYPD’s breathalyzer records and investigation materials early is positioned to pursue every avenue of recovery.
The shopping center security footage, vehicle black box data, and witness accounts from the scene are all subject to disappearing fast. Protecting those records now is one of the most important steps a claimant can take in the weeks after a DWI crash.
All injury cases are handled on contingency, so there are no upfront costs and no fee owed unless we recover for you.
Why Staten Island families trust Frekhtman & Associates:
- $900M+ recovered for injured New York clients across more than 25 years of practice
- $69,225,000 auto accident jury verdict, one of the largest in New York State history
- Free 24/7 consultations, including home and hospital visits for clients unable to travel
- Personal callbacks from founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman
- Russian-language services available
- Zero fees unless we win your case
