Shoreham man injured after car hits pole, Suffolk cops say

A driver who told police he swerved to avoid an animal was injured when his car struck a utility pole on Ridge Road in Ridge late Friday morning, Suffolk County police said.

Police said the driver, a 71-year-old man from Shoreham, was transported by the Ridge Fire Department to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the driver was headed north on Ridge Road near Middle Country Road when he swerved to avoid an animal and his 1996 Buick crashed into the pole at about 10:30 a.m.

Photos from the scene showed a car with its right front end demolished by the force of the collision.

The accident closed Ridge Road briefly for cleanup and investigation, police said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”