A Suffolk police officer accused in a fatal wrong-way crash on Sunrise Highway is now facing upgraded charges.

Prosecutors say Suffolk Police Officer Robert Scheuerer's blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit when he drove the wrong way on Sunrise Highway in September, causing a head-on collision that killed 37-year-old Brian Fusaro, of Bay Shore. The impact of the crash caused Fusaro's van to burst into flames.



A grand jury indicted the 24-year-old officer today on upgraded charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter and aggravated DWI.

The crash happened around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Prosecutors say Scheuerer was drinking at a bar before driving east in the westbound lanes on Sunrise Highway in West Islip. Prosecutors say several other drivers called 911 and flashed their lights to get Scheuerer's attention but that he disregarded the warnings. It was also raining with limited visibility at the time of the crash.



Fusaro was a father and carpenter. His boss described him to News 12 last month.

"Brian was just an extraordinary employee," said Bob Zollino. "He was an extraordinary guy. He was very talented. He could do anything."



Scheuerer's defense attorney William Petrillo would not say much about the charges but did say his client will plead not guilty.



"We do plan to enter a plea of not guilty to each of these charges on the day of his arraignment," said Petrillo.