Drivers flee police after street-racing on William Floyd Parkway, cops say

A Lake Ronkonkoma man and the Queens driver he was allegedly street-racing with on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley early Tuesday face criminal charges after Suffolk Police say they fled from cops at a traffic stop, authorities said.

A Suffolk Police patrol officer witnessed a 2019 Ford Mustang racing a 2023 Dodge Charger on the southbound side the parkway near Smith Point County Park about 12:50 a.m., cops said.

When the officer tried to stop the vehicles, both drivers hit the gas and fled, police said. The pursuit continued south over the Smith Point Bridge, where additional police units stopped both cars.

The driver of the Mustang, Halee Salomon, 22, of Queens, and the Charger operator, Jake Roth, 29, of Lake Ronkonkoma, were each cited for unlawful speed contest, third-degree unlawful fleeing and reckless driving, along with multiple vehicle and traffic law violations.

Both drivers received field appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.

Police seized their cars, which will remain impounded as evidence. Under local ordinance, both vehicles may be subject to forfeiture, police said.

_{Top: provided by SCPD}