1 Dead, 1 Critical After Driver Hits Fire Hydrant, Tree

MIDDLE ISLAND, NY — A man was killed and a woman was critically injured in a crash on Long Island Tuesday night.

Jesse Ahern, of Center Moriches, was driving a 2009 Honda Civic north on West Bartlett Road south of East Bartlett Road in Middle Island when the car left the roadway and struck a fire hydrant and a tree at about 9:50 p.m., Suffolk police said.

Ahern, 38, was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead. Karen Schneider, 34, the only passenger in the vehicle, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital. The Ronkonkoma woman was listed in critical, but stable condition, police said.

The Honda was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.