Three minors exited a parked car in a Manhasset parking lot on Tuesday as a homeless man stole it, drove off and got into two car crashes, Nassau County police said.
At 3:10 p.m., Gilbert Stanton, 23, entered the car, with its engine running, parked in a lot at 1410 Northern Blvd., according to police.
The minors, whose ages were not disclosed, got out of the 2014 white Honda Accord and ran to their mother, who was outside the car and witnessed the incident, a police spokesman said.
Police said Stanton drove off and got into an accident at Northern Boulevard and Clapham Street.
Stanton left the scene and continued driving to the South Service Road of the Long Island Expressway, where he collided with a box truck at the intersection of New Hyde Park Road, police said.
He was apprehended by officers and placed under arrest without incident, police said.
No injuries were reported, police said.
Stanton is charged with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and several vehicle and traffic law violations.
Police said Gilbert was to be arraigned on Wednesday, but court records were not available as of Wednesday morning.
