SUNNYSIDE — A Flushing driver was arrested Saturday after he allegedly caused a severe accident on the Long Island Expressway that sent him and four passengers to the hospital, police said.
John Gilette, 37, of 160th Street, was arraigned on several charges, including aggravated vehicular assault, driving without a license and DWI for the early morning accident, police said.
Around 5 a.m., Gilette entered the eastbound section of the highway in his black 1998 Jeep Wrangler and tried to swerve into the center lane, according to investigators.
A Peterbuilt truck was also traveling eastbound in the same lane and the driver tried to avoid Gilette, but the jeep collided into the right passenger-side cabin of the trailer and swerved out of control into a wall, according to investigators.
All five of the passengers in the jeep were rushed to area hospitals while the truck driver was uninjured, according to police.
Two of the victims were listed in stable condition at New York Hospital of Queens, police said.
One victim was listed in critical condition at Elmhurst Hospital, according to police, and was still in such condition as of press time.
Another passenger was listed in stable condition at Elmhurst, police said.
