Pedestrian critically injured in Lindenhurst

Suffolk County police are investigating a vehicle crash that left a pedestrian critically injured Friday night in Lindenhurst.

Police said James Del Giudice, 49, was driving a 1994 Plymouth west on Sunrise Highway in the middle lane near Richmond Avenue at about 7:45 p.m. when he tried to swerve to avoid Michael Bott, 46, who was attempting to cross Sunrise from the center divider.

He could not avoid Bott and struck him. Bott, who police said is homeless, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip with severe head trauma, bleeding on the brain, a fractured pelvis and numerous fractures to his lower extremities.

Witnesses told police that it appeared Bott was disregarding traffic while attempting to cross the highway.