On Tuesday, April 23th, a tragic turn of events took place in Long Island. This Long Island fatal crash involved two vehicles, resulting in the death of Cynthia Mitchell, a 64-year-old woman. The DUI accident, which occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m. in Massapequa, involved Rachel Lodice, a 21-year-old resident of Jericho, who was driving a 2023 Kia southbound on Hicksville Road. Lodice collided with a 2022 Nissan Altima traveling eastbound on Sunrise Highway.
According to Fox 5, Mitchell sustained fatal injuries from the collision and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Additionally, a 46-year-old female passenger from the Nissan was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The gravity of the situation was emphasized by Monique Powell, a friend of the victim, who expressed deep concern for Mitchell's daughter, an 18-year-old college-bound honor student, now left without her mother.
Amidst the chaos, an Oyster Bay public safety officer arrived at the scene to render aid. However, the situation took a bewildering turn when Lodice, allegedly intoxicated, took the opportunity to flee the scene in the officer's marked vehicle. She was swiftly apprehended, wearing the officer's jacket, shortly thereafter.
This act of vehicular manslaughter, compounded by leaving the scene of the incident and driving under the influence, led to Lodice facing serious charges. Furthermore, her actions were characterized as grand larceny due to the theft of the public safety vehicle. Lodice's impending legal proceedings were underscored by insights from a woman claiming to be her soon-to-be mother-in-law, who highlighted Lodice's status as a new mother undergoing personal challenges.
The swift response from law enforcement and local authorities was commended, with Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino acknowledging the quick actions taken to mitigate the situation. Despite the tragedy, the collaborative efforts between local agencies facilitated Lodice's arrest and the initiation of legal proceedings.