West Islip man dies after car crashes into pole, police say

A sedan slammed sideways into a utility pole late Friday night in West Islip, fatally injuring the driver and injuring his wife, Suffolk County police said Saturday.

Walter Kneibert, 76, of West Islip, lost control shortly after getting off eastbound Sunrise Highway at 11:25 p.m. and struck the utility pole on the service road, near Pine Avenue, about a half-mile west of the Robert Moses Causeway, police said.

Kneibert was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where his wife Ruth Kneibert, 72, was treated for minor injuries, police said.

Third Precinct detectives were at the scene overnight to piece together what happened, but no criminality was suspected, police said Saturday morning.

Police said investigators believe the victim’s Toyota Camry may have skidded on wet roads. The vehicle was impounded for a safety check.