NEW YORK — A New York State trooper was hospitalized after being exposed to opioids while responding to a driver who apparently overdosed on a Long Island highway, police say.
The bizarre incident began just after 1:15 p.m. Thursday on Wantagh State Parkway in Hempstead, state police said. Deputies were responding to reports of an erratic driver heading south and found the vehicle crashed minutes later.
The driver was unresponsive and appeared to be suffering from an opioid overdose, state police said. Responding officers administered Narcan and the driver was taken to Nassau University Medical Center.
While investigating the accident, one of the officers began experiencing symptoms associated with opioid exposure, according to the New York State Police. The agent was also administered Narcan and taken to hospital.
Neither the condition of the driver nor the officer was immediately clear. However, the 35-year-old driver, identified as Jaqueline Morales, of East Meadow, was later arrested and charged with driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance.
It was not immediately clear if Morales had an attorney.
