PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (AP) - A Long Island police officer was injured when his vehicle was rear-ended by a drunk driver.
It happened in Patchogue while Suffolk County police were conducting a follow-up investigation Sunday at the scene of a fatal car crash a day earlier.
Officer Brian Smales placed his car, with emergency lights on, on the right shoulder of the Sunrise Highway outside the lane of traffic. Shortly afterward, a 2012 Chrysler struck the rear of his cruiser.
Police say Salvatore Distefano, was arrested at the scene and charged with DWI, assault and violating the state's "Move Over Law." He was later treated at a hospital for facial lacerations and released. Information about his lawyer wasn't immediately available.
Smales was treated at a hospital for head, neck, back and leg injuries and released.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Friday, May 24 2013 7:28 AM EDT2013-05-24 11:28:04 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:28 AM EDT2013-05-23 10:28:29 GMT
The parolee shot and killed along with a Hofstra University student by police won praise from a state parole panel in 2011 before his conditional release from prison.
The parolee shot and killed along with a Hofstra University student by police won praise from a state parole panel in 2011 before his conditional release from prison.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police.
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police. Andrea Rebello's family followed the pastor Wednesday as he led her white cloth-draped coffin to the altar at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:32 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:32:24 GMT
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
WTXF-TV 330 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-2796
