Crime & Safety

Driver in Bayport Crash Now Facing Several Felony Charges

Brightwaters woman charged with vehicular assault, reckless driving and four other charges.

Charges against a Brightwaters woman who allegedly drove the wrong way on Sunrise Highway in Bayport last August causing a two-car crash have been upgraded significantly from an initial DUI arrest.

Julie Caradona, 55, is now charged with assault in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, vehicular assault in the second degree, driving under the influence of a drug and reckless driving. The first two charges are D felonies, the third is an E felony and the last two charges are misdemeanors.

Caradona, who pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Nov. 27, is being held on $15,000 bond/ $7,500 cash bail and scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 20.

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Police say Caradona was driving her 1997 Camry westbound in the eastbound lane of the highway about 11 p.m. on August 21, 2013, just west of Nicolls Road near Veterans Memorial Highway, when her car struck a 2002 Nissan Maxima driven by Armando Cruz, a 30 year-old Brentwood man.

According to the Bayport Fire Department both drivers had to be extricated from the vehicles using the Jaws of Life equipment and were taken by Community Ambulance to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. Cruz suffered multiple fractures while Caradona sustained non life threatening injuries.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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