Riverhead Police Officer Injured in Head-On Collision During Police Chase

A Riverhead police officer was sent to the hospital Wednesday night after his cruiser was struck head-on by an allegedly high and drunk driver fleeing police, police said.

Officer Charles Schneider, a member of the force for a year and a half, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center after possibly suffering internal injuries during the crash, said Police Chief David Hegermiller.

Schneider was driving eastbound on Sound Avenue to assist in a police chase when the suspect, driving a van, veered into Scheider's lane and struck him head-on, Hegermiller said. The driver, Edward Ferger, 46, of Jamesport, was first spotted by police on Herricks Lane after they received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area, police said. When police attempted to pull Ferger over, he allegedly fled north, turning on to Sound Avenue. Hegermiller estimated Ferget was traveling about 50 miles per hour at the time of the collision.

Schneider is "expected to make a full recovery" and is currently under observation at Stony Brook Hospital, Hegermiller said. Ferger was treated and released from Stony Brook.

Police said Ferger was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence of drugs, failing to stop at a stop sign, and reckless driving. He was held pending arraignment.