Drivers seriously hurt in head-on crash in Dix Hills

The drivers in a head-on collision Monday morning in Dix Hills were seriously injured and freed from their vehicles with hydraulic cutting tools, with one being airlifted to a nearby hospital, rescue officials and Suffolk County police said.

A Toyota Sienna minivan driven by Abdul Halimi, 37, of Huntington Station, and a Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by Mark Roesler, 46, of East Northport, rammed head on at 6:45 a.m. on Jericho Turnpike, east of Deer Park Road, police said.

Roesler sustained broken bones and internal injuries. He was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center. Halimi was taken to Huntington Hospital with broken bones, police said.

"I will tell you that in both vehicles the air bags probably saved the drivers' lives," said Tom Magno, an assistant chief with the Dix Hills Fire Department whose staff freed both drivers with extrication tools.

In a Monday afternoon news release, police did not update the conditions of the drivers.

Police said the investigation is continuing. They urged anyone with information on the crash to call 631-854-8252.