Suffolk Cop Charged in Deadly Wrong-Way Crash Accused of Drinking Before Collision: Report

An assistant district attorney is accusing the Suffolk County cop who was charged with reckless endangerment after a deadly wrong-way crash last week of drinking at a bar before the crash, according to a report in Newsday.

Robert Scheuerer, a 24-year-old officer assigned to Suffolk County's Third Precinct, was off-duty while driving his 2000 Nissan Pathfinder eastbound in the westbound lanes on Sunrise Highway in West Islip when he crashed into a 2016 Ford van at about 4:38 a.m. on Sept. 27, police said.

The van caught fire, and the driver, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

At his arraignment on Tuesday Scheuerer, who remains in serious condition from injuries sustained in the crash, plead not guilty to a charge of first degree reckless endangerment, a class D felony. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of that charge. After his arrest, police said "additional charges may be forthcoming."

Judge David Morris set cash bail for Scheuerer at $150,000 cash or $250,000 bond.

“At this point, we have reason to believe the defendant was drinking at a bar prior to the crash,” Assistant District Attorney Marc Lindemann said according to Newsday.

Toxicology reports have not yet been released.

Scheuerer is due back in court on Nov. 17.