Driver Seriously Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash Outside Ammerman

A New Jersey man was seriously injured after he was rear-ended while stopped in traffic south of the Ammerman campus entrance along Nicolls Road yesterday morning, Suffolk police said.

Police said Rafael Tavarez, 71, of Clifton, New Jersey, was driving his 2021 Ford F350 in the left lane of northbound Nicolls Road, north of Horseblock Place, when his vehicle was rear-ended by a 2005 Lexus driven by Patrick McCrum, 61, of Ridge, at about 10:45 a.m.

McCrum was extracted by Farmingville Fire Department Rescue and taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Tavarez and his passenger, Wilby Tapia, 38, also of Clifton New Jersey, were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks.

This accident came only a day after another accident that took place on the same stretch of road on Feb 13. 

Suffolk, being a commuter college, has nearly all of its student body commuting to class leaving many students concerned about the dangers that might come with accidents happening so close to campus.

“I live right down the road — only a 5 to 10 minute commute — and I see the craziest drivers on this stretch of Nicholls road. Especially during rush hour,” says Ryan Leykis, 21, a general studies major from Selden.  

“I come up from the expressway four days a week for my classes. I see drives flying past me, jumping between the lanes, and it’s just a mess because of how much traffic you can get at certain times of the day,” says Anthony Small, 22, a creative writing major from Islip.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.