NY police charge former Olympic track star with drunken driving on Long Island parkway

Former Olympic champ faces DWI charge in NY

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — A former Olympic track star has been arraigned on drunk driving charges on New York’s Long Island.

Derrick Adkins of West Hempstead — who lives on a street named in his honor — was arrested on the Meadowbrook Parkway on Aug. 29. A Nassau County District Attorney spokesman says Adkins was released on his own recognizance after Wednesday’s arraignment.

State police say Adkins was seen drifting in and out of lanes at almost 2 a.m. A trooper also said he smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath.

Adkins won a gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic games in Atlanta in 1996.

He’s due back in court Oct. 23.

His attorney did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.