2 Teens Killed, Driver Arrested in Long Island Crash

The 20-year-old driver was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence

A 20-year-old Long Island man has been arrested after he crashed his vehicle into a tree early Saturday morning, killing his girlfriend and another passenger, police say.

Suffolk County police said the group was returning to Long Island from a trip to the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in New Jersey.

The driver, Thomas Smith of Ridge, was going northbound on William Floyd Parkway when he veered off the road and slammed into a tree at about 1:24 a.m., police said.

Two passengers, 19-year-old Jacqueline Salvador and 17-year-old Ryan Baumgartner, were ejected from the vehicle. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Salvador was Smith's girlfriend, police said.

Another 17-year-old male passenger was transported to the Stony Brook University Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Smith and another 16-year-old female passenger were not injured, police said.

Smith was charged with driving under the influence of prescription drugs. He was being held overnight at the Seventh Precinct and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on April 15.

It wasn't immediately clear if Smith had a lawyer.

Investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.

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