Four seriously hurt in LIE crash

A man police believe was drunk rear-ended another car on the Long Island Expressway Saturday evening, setting off a chain-reaction accident that left four young women seriously injured.

Henry Schaeffer, 36, of Bayport, was driving his 2005 Mercedes-Benz westbound between exits 67 and 66 at 10:15 p.m. when he rear-ended a 1995 Ford Expedition in the middle lane, said Det. Sgt. Frank Stewart.

The SUV, driven by Lori Smith, 24, of Mastic, crossed the grassy median strip to the eastbound lane of the expressway, Stewart said, where it hit a two-door Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Kelly Scherz, 19, of East Patchogue.

Scherz and her passenger, Megan Vinsevich, 19, both Dowling College freshmen, were returning home from watching a lacrosse game, said Vinsevich's mother.

The Ford landed on its side and Smith was thrown from the vehicle along with her passenger, Antoinetta Squillace, 20, of Bay Shore. Both were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital.

Smith suffered head and body lacerations, and Squillace sustained a skull fracture and an injury to her right hand. Both were listed in stable condition Saturday night.

Scherz was in critical condition and in a coma after being taken by helicopter to Stony Brook Saturday night, Stewart said. Vinsevich, of Syracuse, was treated at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center for head, hip and chest pain, and released yesterday morning.

Schaeffer was uninjured, Stewart said. He failed a field sobriety test administered by police officers at the scene of the accident.

Results of a blood test for alcohol taken later that evening were not yet available, police said.

Schaeffer was arraigned yesterday morning on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated, Stewart said, though other charges may be added.