A Suffolk County sheriff's deputy on routine patrol hit and killed a teenage driver.
The teen had parked his car in the HOV lane on the Long Island Expressway near Ronkonkoma.
It seems a tragic chain of events led to the deadly crash.
Shortly before 6 p.m., the Suffolk County sheriff's office says 18-year-old William Schettino, of Blue Point, was driving west on the LIE. His grandfather told Newsday that another driver side-swiped Schettino's car.
His 2011 Mazda wound up in the HOV lane, with the driver's side door damaged. The grandfather says Schettino called 911 from inside his car, switched on his hazard lights, climbed over to the passenger side and got out.
That's when a Suffolk County deputy sheriff on routine patrol came upon his car, swerved to avoid a collision and then struck and killed Schettino.
Officials say the deputy was blinded by the setting sun.
Police closed all westbound lanes of the LIE between exits 59 and 60, and they remained closed until after midnight for the investigation.
The deputy, identified as Richard Tedesco, was taken to the hospital for treatment, but his injuries were not serious. Officials remind drivers that if you're in a crash, try to move out of the traffic lanes. But most importantly, stay in your car with your seat belt buckled.
---
