Crime & Safety
Police: Southampton Man on Xanax Struck Toyota in Flanders Carrying Woman and Children
Morgan P. Croke charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and assault.
A 58-year-old Southampton man was arrested in Flanders on Saturday after police said he veered into oncoming traffic on Flanders Road while under the influence of prescription drugs and struck another vehicle carrying a woman and two children, causing it to roll several times.
The woman and her children, ages 15 and 5, were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead for evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries.
Southampton Town Police said the Southampton man, Morgan P. Croke was arrested at about noon Saturday after they responded to several 911 calls of an overturned vehicle on Flanders Road.
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Officers determined Croke was driving northbound in a Nissan pick-up truck when he suddenly veered left into the southbound lane, according to police. Police said he was found to be under the influence of Xanax and placed under arrest.
Croke was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, assault in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the third degree and reckless driving — all misdemeanors — as well as a traffic infraction. He was held overnight for morning arraignment.
