Driver, 70, seriously hurt in E. Patchogue

An out-of-state truck driver was seriously injured Monday after he exited his vehicle in East Patchogue to get directions and was hit by a car, police said.

Iday Watson, 70, of Fayetteville, N.C., was struck by a 1994 Ford Taurus on Sills Road, Suffolk police said.

Watson, who had pulled over on to the northbound Sills Road shoulder, was hit while returning to his truck at 6:15 p.m., after crossing the road to ask for directions, police said.

He was taken by helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment, police said.

The driver of the Ford, Robert Mergl, 69, of East Patchogue, was not injured, police said.

Detectives asked that anyone who may have seen the incident to contact the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.