A Riverhead man originally from Poland was extradited back to the United States to face charges related to his March 2022 arrest, in which he allegedly drove while intoxicated and triggered a head-on, multiple-car collision and killed a 60-year-old woman.
“This defendant’s alleged dangerous and deadly choice to drive drunk caused the death of Elizabeth Post, who was simply headed home after visiting her grandchild,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “When it was finally time to face the charges for his actions, he allegedly fled the country. I thank the Department of Justice, the United States Marshal Service’s New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Southold Police Department for helping bring this defendant to justice.”
On March 6, 2022, at approximately 6:04 p.m., Adam Chrzanowski was driving a 2021 Toyota RAV 4 eastbound on Route 25 in Cutchogue when he allegedly crossed over the double yellow lines attempting to overtake another car.
Chrzanowski then allegedly crashed head-on with a 2019 Nissan Rogue that was in the westbound lanes of Route 25, in which Elizabeth Post, of Massapequa, was in the front passenger seat. Two other vehicles went off the roadway and spun out of control due to the collision.
The driver of the Rogue suffered multiple fractures to his spine, clavicle, sternum, ribs, and leg. Post required several surgeries for severe internal injuries and fractures. As a result of injuries sustained in the crash, she passed away on September 12, 2022.
On December 21, 2022, Chrzanowski, 45, was arraigned on the indictment before County Court Judge Stephen L. Braslow for the following charges:
- three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, all Class B felonies
- one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony
- one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class D felony
- five counts of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, all Class C felonies
- two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, both Class D violent felonies
- one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a Class E felony
- two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, both Class E felonies
- one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor
On March 10, 2024, while the case was pending, Chrzanowski allegedly boarded a plane from JFK Airport and flew to his native Poland to allegedly avoid prosecution on this matter. On March 25, 2024, a bench warrant was issued for his failure to appear on the pending indictment.
Chrzanowski was thereafter indicted for Bail Jumping in the First Degree, and, with the assistance of federal and Polish authorities, he was ultimately returned to the United States.
On March 23, 2026, Chrzanowski was arraigned on the new indictment charging him with Bail Jumping in the First Degree, a Class D felony, before County Court Judge Bryan Browns.
Browns ordered Chrzanowski remanded without bail until his next court appearance on April 8, 2026. He faces 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, and 2-1/3 to seven years in prison for the separate indictment charging Bail Jumping.