A Middletown man was arrested early Sunday on drunk driving charges after he was stopped along the Long Island Expressway near North Hills and police found three children in the back seat.
Kingsley C. Chukwu, 45, faces three counts of violating Leandra’s Law, of driving while intoxicated with children in the car; three counts of endangering the welfare of a child; two other driving while intoxicated charges and other, undisclosed vehicle and traffic violations, police said.
He was arraigned Sunday in First District Court in Hempstead.
Police said highway patrolmen pulled over Chukwu in a 2009 Honda at Exit 32 of the LIE after observing him fail to maintain his lane and swerve into the right shoulder.
Upon conducting a traffic stop, police found three male children, four-year-old twins and a six-year-old, seated in the back seat and not wearing seat belts.
A police investigation revealed Chukwu had been under the influence of alcohol, authorities said.
The children were released to their mother, a 38-year-old who was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Chukwu was arrested without incident, police said. His vehicle was impounded.
No injuries were reported.
