The owner of an Oyster Bay bar was charged with vehicular assault, leaving the scene of an incident, driving while intoxicated and other charges for a May 2025 drunken hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian intubated for nearly a week with severe injuries.
On May 17, 2025, at approximately 9:09 p.m., after allegedly drinking at Teddy’s Bully Bar in Oyster Bay, a bar that he owns, Leonard Gross was driving his 2025 Dodge Ram pick-up truck southbound on South Street in Oyster Bay with a revoked driver’s license. The defendant turned left onto East Main Street and allegedly struck a pedestrian who was walking in the crosswalk on East Main Street.
The victim fell onto the roadway and underneath Gross’ pick-up truck. Gross allegedly ran over the victim’s body and fled the scene eastbound on East Main Street at a high rate of speed.
The victim was transported to Nassau University Medical Center and suffered multiple broken ribs, injuries to his chest and lungs and multiple facial lacerations. He remained intubated for approximately five days following the crash.
Gross allegedly fled to his home in Syosset after the crash and parked his pick-up truck in his driveway.
His truck was captured on surveillance cameras and license plate readers and police officers responded to his home at approximately 11:30 p.m. The victim’s blood was observed underneath the pick-up truck.
Additional video surveillance obtained during the course of the investigation from Teddy’s Bully Bar showed the defendant allegedly consuming multiple alcoholic drinks before driving and striking the victim
Gross surrendered on January 8, 2026, to the Nassau County Police Department Second Squad.
Gross, 67, of Syosset, was arraigned on January 8 before Judge Joseph Girardi on grand jury indictment charges of two counts of Vehicular Assault in the First Degree (a Class D felony); Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Resulting in Serious Physical Injury, Driving While Intoxicated and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of Motor Vehicle in the First Degree (all Class E felonies); Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree and Reckless Driving (both unclassified misdemeanors); and Operating a Motor Vehicle While Ability Impaired (a traffic infraction). He pleaded not guilty.
Bail was set at $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, and $1.5 million partially secured bond and the defendant’s license was suspended. He is due back in court on February 23, 2026. If convicted, Gross faces up to eleven years in prison.