One driver killed, another hurt in head-on crash, Suffolk police say

A driver veered into oncoming traffic and was killed after a head-on collision that involved a total of five vehicles Wednesday night in North Patchogue, Suffolk police said.

The driver, a 54-year-old man, was in a Cadillac going south on North Ocean Avenue overpass by Sunrise Highway when he crossed the yellow lines just before 9 p.m., hit the guardrail, sideswiped two vehicles and struck a Ford Explorer head-on, police said.

The Explorer then crashed into another vehicle, police said.

The Cadillac driver was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His name was withheld as detectives notified his family.

The Ford driver, Matthew Rwzuk, 28, of Mount Sinai, was also taken to the same hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

Rescuers had to extricate both drivers, who were unconscious when firefighters and medics arrived, said Gene Spiotta Jr., who was in charge of the rescue as first assistant chief of the North Patchogue fire department. 

The Cadillac's engine was smoldering as they tried to extricate the man behind the wheel, he said, and the Ford driver was trapped under the dashboard. 

Police said all five vehicles involved in the incident were impounded for safety checks.