Vehicle crashes into Sunken Meadow Park toll plaza, igniting fire
A fire ignited after a vehicle crashed into the toll plaza at Sunken Meadow State Park Monday and burst into flames. Credit: Evan Rolla
A vehicle crashed into the toll plaza of Sunken Meadow State Park, igniting a fire there Monday morning, state park officials said.
The crash sent the vehicle up in flames and partially damaged the left side of the toll structure.
State police, state park police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the Kings Park state facility just after 11 a.m. The fire has since been put out, officials said.
Firefighters left the scene shortly before 1 p.m. while the acrid smell of smoke lingered.
State police on the scene of a vehicle crash at the entrance to Sunken Meadow State Park. A vehicle hit the toll plaza and burst into flames Monday. Credit: Newsday/John Asbury
Crime scene investigators were examining the charred vehicle, which remained under the toll plaza. The roof of the plaza was damaged with a piece of hanging facade
Police closed the entrance to the park and were turning away vehicles on both exits off the Sunken Meadow Parkway and Route 25A. The park's website said it was closed "until further notice."
No information about the driver was immediately available.
Newsday's Maureen Mullarkey contributed to this story.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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