Police: 2 injured in DWI crash into tree in Lake Ronkonkoma

A drunken driver crashed into a tree early Saturday morning in Lake Ronkonkoma, seriously injuring himself and his passenger, Suffolk County police said.

Police received a 911 call at 4:09 a.m. reporting the single-vehicle crash on Hawkins Avenue, police said. The driver and the passenger -- both men whose names were not immediately released -- were traveling in a Jeep Cherokee when the vehicle struck a tree, police said.

Both men were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the vehicle was charged with driving while intoxicated, police said.

Officers from Suffolk's Fourth Precinct are investigating, police said.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.