Suffolk Cop Airlifted to Hospital After Drunk Driver Rear-Ends Patrol Car: Police

BROOKHAVEN, NY - A Suffolk County Police officer was airlifted to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a drunk driver rear-ended his patrol car on Sunrise Highway in Brookhaven early Saturday, police said.

According to police, 27-year-old Carlos Morocho, of Center Moriches, was driving a 2003 Ford van east on Sunrise Highway, one mile west of William Floyd Parkway, when his vehicle rear-ended a marked police car around 3:55 a.m.

A Seventh Precinct patrol officer was in the left lane assisting a disabled motorist whose vehicle was on fire, police said. Morocho fled on foot and was apprehended a short time later by another Seventh Precinct officer, Christopher Steimel, and placed under arrest, police said.

The injured officer, a 9-year-veteran of the police department, was airlifted via police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, police said.

Morocho is charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting causing physical injury, DWI, first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without an interlock device, failure to move over for an emergency vehicle and false personation.

Morocho was held overnight at the Seventh Precinct and was scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday.

SCPD photo: Carlos Morocho