Officer hurt when reckless driver's car hits cop's vehicle, police say

A New Jersey man was arraigned Saturday after, authorities said, he drove recklessly, refused to pull over and struck a marked police vehicle in Lynbrook early Friday, injuring a police officer.

Bryant Veal, 20, of Trenton, was initially observed driving recklessly westbound on Sunrise Highway by a Nassau County police officer, who activated his emergency lights to try to stop the vehicle about 1:45 a.m., Nassau police said.

But Veal kept going and hit a marked Lynbrook cruiser that had joined the pursuit, police said. The crash happened near Sunrise and Horton Avenue, police said.

The Lynbrook officer was taken to a hospital to be evaluated and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

Veal was arrested and charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree assault, third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, unlawful possession of marijuana and several traffic infractions.

He pleaded not guilty Saturday in Nassau First District Court in Hempstead, where bail was set at $20,000 cash or $40,000 bond, according to court records. He is set to return to court Tuesday for his next hearing.

Attorney information for Veal was not available Saturday.