Nassau Officer Michael Hyland critically injured in Lindenhurst crash, SCPD says

A Nassau County Highway Patrol officer was in critical condition late Monday after being injured in a crash while part of an earlier funeral procession in Lindenhurst, Suffolk County police said.

The officer, identified as Michael Hyland, 53, was riding a 2020 Harley Davidson about 11:08 a.m. when "he collided with a 2020 Toyota Tundra" at the intersection of North Wellwood Avenue and Jerome Street, the police said in a news release.

Photographs from the scene show a Toyota Tundra pickup with severe damage to its front end and parked over a police motorcycle lying on its side.

Hyland was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, where he was in critical condition late Monday. The driver of the Tundra was not injured, police said.

Tommy Shevlin, president of the Nassau Police Benevolent Association said earlier Monday that Hyland had been in surgery and "has a long road to recovery ahead of him."

"Seeing one of our own in that condition," Shevlin continued, "is a painful reminder of the incredible dangers our police officers face every single day — especially those in the Highway Patrol who risk their lives on the open road to keep others safe."

Suffolk police did not provide any additional information about what led up to the crash.

Suffolk police detectives from the Major Case Unit are investigating the crash, police said. The investigation is ongoing officials said.

"The dangers of this profession are real, but so is the bravery and selflessness of the men and women who serve," Shevlin said.