A Polish national pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and causing a head-on, four-car collision. The crash killed a 60-year-old woman, who was a passenger in one of the vehicles.
On March 6, 2022 at approximately 6:04 p.m., Adam Chrzanowski was driving a 2021 Toyota RAV4 eastbound on Route 25 in Cutchogue. The defendant crossed over the double yellow lines to bypass a car driving in front of him and saw a 2019 Nissan Rogue coming towards him in the opposite lane of traffic. When Chrzanowski swerved back into his lane, he struck the car ahead of him and caused a chain-reaction collision with the next vehicle. He then swerved again, crashing head-on with the Nissan Rogue, of which Elizabeth Post was the front passenger.
The two other vehicles spun out of control due to the collision.
Chrzanowski was arrested and refused to submit to a chemical breath test upon request by police. He was transported to a local hospital, where a sample of his blood was ultimately taken, revealing a concentration of 0.28% — more than three times the legal limit.
The driver of the Rogue suffered multiple fractures to his spine, clavicle, sternum, ribs and leg. Post, 60, of Massapequa, required several surgeries for severe internal injuries and fractures. She passed away from her injuries six months later, on September 12, 2022.
On March 10, 2024, while the case was pending, Chrzanowski boarded a plane from JFK Airport and flew to his native country of Poland. After failing to appear in court on the pending indictment, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Chrzanowski was ultimately returned to the United States with the assistance of federal and Polish authorities.
On September 9, 2026, Chrzanowski, 45, pleaded guilty before County Court Judge Bryan Browns to the following charges:
- three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, Class B felonies
- one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony
- two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies
- one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a Class E felony
- one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor
“Today, this defendant admitted guilt in causing the death of Elizabeth Post and then fleeing to Poland in an attempt to evade justice,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Thanks to our strong partnership with our federal and international law enforcement partners, the defendant was located, extradited and held accountable. This was a tragic and preventable loss of life caused by reckless, impaired driving. Our thoughts are with the victims during this difficult time.”
Chrzanowski is due back in court on December 16, 2026, and is expected to be sentenced to five to fifteen years in prison.