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.
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