Driver checking damage from LIE crash in Melville struck by second car; two men face charges

Two men are due in court Monday after they were found with drugs following a chain-reaction crash on the Long Island Expressway that left a Center Moriches man badly injured, Suffolk Police said.

Police said Paven Putt Bhat, 27, was driving a 2025 Nissan Altima east in the HOV lane at Exit 50 when it struck the median around 5:50 a.m. Sunday. After he got out to check the damage on his car, Bhat was struck by a 2019 Honda Civic driven by Cristian Guevara, 28, police said.

Bhat is at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip being treated for serious injuries.

At the accident scene, police discovered Guevara and his passenger, John Hurtado-Conde, 31, of Flanders, were in possession of narcotics, cops said, and determined that the driver had been driving under the influence of drugs, police said.

Guevara and Hurtado-Conde are expected to be arraigned on multiple charges Monday at Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip. Police did not release Guevara’s hometown.

Guevara was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Hurtado-Conde was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

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