Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Cop Charged in Deadly Wrong-Way Crash Allegedly Had BAC Over Twice Legal Limit

The 24-year-old has not yet been charged with anything other than reckless endangerment.

UPDATE:

Robert Scheuerer, the Suffolk County police officer who was accused of drunk driving after a recent deadly wrong-way collision, allegedly had a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit when the crash occurred, Newsday reports.

Toxicology reports show that the 24-year-old cop for the Third Precinct had a BAC of 0.17 percent, according to Newsday.

Find out what's happening in West Islipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Police have yet charged Scheuerer with anything other than reckless endangerment.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Find out what's happening in West Islipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.