Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A Deer Park man is facing misdemeanor charges after police say he struck a 13-year-old boy riding a bicycle on Roderick Road in West Islip and fled the scene Sunday evening, leaving a group of children shaken and an injured teen hospitalized with multiple injuries. According to News 12 Long Island, the suspect — identified as Charles Dreitlein — was arrested the following day, Monday, June 9, 2026, and now faces calls from the victim’s father for significantly upgraded charges.
The incident unfolded around 7:45 p.m. Sunday when, according to reporting by News 12 Long Island, a driver in an SUV approached a group of children who were riding bicycles. Video first reported by News 12 captures the moments leading up to and following the collision: the driver is seen heading toward the group of young cyclists, one child falls, and the SUV is then observed driving away from the scene — with a bicycle visibly lodged underneath the vehicle. The footage is stark, and its details have become central to the victim’s father’s argument that the charges do not go far enough.
The injured teenager, whose father identified him as 13 years old, suffered hand, leg, and head injuries as a result of the collision. His father, William McCaw, told News 12 that his son is struggling emotionally in the aftermath of the crash. “He’s a little bit stressed out… traumatized is the best word,” McCaw said. Despite the severity of the incident, McCaw expressed gratitude that police made an arrest within a single day of the crash — a turnaround he acknowledged was commendable.
Approximately a mile from the primary crash location on Roderick Road, a neighbor living near the intersection of Ruth Street and Kane Street reported hearing a screech at around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. That neighbor then discovered a mangled bicycle lying in the roadway — consistent with the scenario depicted in the widely circulated video. The detail places Dreitlein’s alleged flight from the scene on a traceable path and helped police build their case quickly.
Dreitlein was arrested Monday and, when approached by a News 12 crew at his home following the arrest, declined to comment. He is currently charged with third-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury — both misdemeanor-level offenses under New York State law. McCaw, however, is pushing back hard on those charges, contending they fall well short of justice given the circumstances captured on video. “The charges are weak. The charges need to be upgraded,” McCaw told News 12. “If they don’t, they’re going to hear from me and maybe other angry parents in the community. He intentionally targeted these kids.”
McCaw’s allegation that Dreitlein “intentionally targeted” the children goes beyond the conclusions reflected in the current charges. While police have not publicly described the incident as intentional, the video evidence — which shows the driver heading toward the group of children — has fueled McCaw’s demand that prosecutors and Suffolk County authorities reconsider the charge level. McCaw said he hopes his son continues to recover and that the case ultimately results in full accountability for what happened on Roderick Road that Sunday evening.
Location & Road Context
The crash took place on Roderick Road in West Islip, a residential community in the Town of Islip in Suffolk County. The secondary evidence trail — the mangled bicycle found near Ruth Street and Kane Street — suggests the vehicle traveled approximately a mile from the initial collision point before the bicycle became dislodged or visible to bystanders. West Islip’s residential streets see regular bicycle traffic, particularly among school-age children during evening hours in the summer months. For more on accident patterns across Suffolk County roads, including cyclist-involved crashes, see our ongoing coverage.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Charles Dreitlein was arrested Monday, June 9, 2026 — less than 24 hours after the Sunday evening crash — and charged with third-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury, both misdemeanors, according to News 12 Long Island. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office confirmed that Dreitlein is scheduled to appear before a judge on June 26, 2026. The case is drawing attention not only because of the video evidence but because McCaw has publicly stated his intention to pressure authorities for upgraded charges — which, depending on prosecutorial findings, could potentially include felony-level reckless endangerment or assault charges if intent or reckless disregard is established to a higher legal standard.
McCaw’s demand for escalated charges puts the Suffolk DA’s office in the spotlight ahead of the June 26 arraignment. Whether prosecutors will revisit the charge level before or during that court date remains an open question. The related arrest report filed earlier on June 9 reflects the initial misdemeanor framing of the case.
Broader Impact
New York State’s leaving-the-scene statute — under which Dreitlein is currently charged — carries misdemeanor penalties when the crash results in personal injury rather than death. However, if prosecutors determine that Dreitlein’s actions were reckless or intentional, charges could be elevated under New York’s assault statutes to felony-level offenses carrying significantly greater penalties. The video evidence and the father’s public testimony about intentional targeting may factor into any prosecutorial review of the case before the June 26 court date. Families and cyclists in West Islip and surrounding communities are watching closely.