GREENLAWN
PD: Critical After Crash
Harley Davidson motorcycle strikes Jeep crossing Commack Road on South Shore
By Mike Koehler/mkoehler@longislandernews.com

A Greenlawn man was hospitalized with serious injuries after his motorcycle collided with a car last weekend.

James Busterna, 48, was riding his 2006 Harley Davidson south on Commack Road in North Babylon at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, Suffolk County police said. At the same time, a Jeep entered the highway from Drakeford Avenue.

“The motorcycle struck the Jeep,” Det./Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky said. “The Jeep was crossing from one side to the other.”

Pelkofsky said there was no indication of what caused the accident, adding that no criminal charges have been filed yet.

Busterna was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center in a police helicopter, police said, where he was listed in critical condition with internal injuries and multiple fractures. A hospital spokeswoman for the hotel refused to comment yesterday on his status.

The Greenlawn man’s family could not be reached for comment by phone.

His passenger, Debbie Lizza, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip by the North Babylon Fire Department. Police said that Lizza was admitted with in stable condition with multiple fractures. A hospital spokeswoman said she was in stable condition on Wednesday.
The North Babylon Fire Department also took the driver of the Jeep, Matthew Trenn, and his passenger, Katherine Onorato, to Good Samaritan Hospital. Both Trenn, 22, of Wantagh, and Onorato, 22, of North Babylon, were treated for minor injuries and released, said police.

Officials with the fire department did not return phone messages for comment yesterday.

An investigation is underway, and both the Harley Davidson and the Jeep were impounded for safety checks.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call the First Squad confidentially at 631-854-8152.