E. Hampton cop in crash escapes serious injury

An East Hampton Town police officer totaled his patrol car late Wednesday while responding to a call for backup in a burglary investigation, police said.

Officer Raymond Rau had only "bumps and bruises" after overturning his car on Old Stone Highway in Amagansett at about 11:30 p.m., Capt. Mike Sarlo said. He was treated at Southampton Hospital and released.

Rau was using his emergency lights and siren when he lost control on the slick, wet road near Albert's Landing Road, Sarlo said. The officer has been with the department since 2005.

Rau likely avoided serious injury because he was wearing a seat belt and because the metal divider wall that separates police in the front seat from suspects in the back prevented the roof from being crushed, Sarlo said.

"He came away with bumps and bruises, so we're thankful for that," Sarlo said. "Any time they're not hurt, we're thankful."

Sarlo said the department believes Rau was not driving excessively fast in his response to the backup call and that the main reason for the accident was the condition of the road.

A fellow officer was alone, on a dark road with two burglary suspects at the time, Sarlo said, so using the car's lights and siren was an acceptable action.

Sarlo said the investigation into the burglary call is continuing, however, it appears there was no criminal intent in the case.

The two suspects were seen parked in the driveway of an unoccupied home in Springs, and a neighbor called police with what was thought to be a residential break-in.

"That turned out to be a misunderstanding," Sarlo said.