Off-duty Suffolk County cop busted in fatal crash

WEST ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) -- An off-duty police officer on Long Island has been arrested after police say he was involved in a fatal collision while driving the wrong way.

Police say Robert Scheuerer, 24, was arrested on a charge of reckless endangerment. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer who could comment.

Authorities say the off-duty Suffolk County police officer was driving eastbound when he struck a van in the westbound lanes of Sunrise Highway in West Islip just after 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The van caught fire and its unidentified driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scheuerer remains hospitalized with serious injuries and will be arraigned at a later date. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

Police say the officer was assigned to the Third Precinct and has been suspended without pay.