Drugged Driver Arrested After Fatally Striking Bicyclist: Cops

MIDDLE ISLAND, NY – A bicyclist was struck and killed by a drugged driver Saturday morning, police said.

According to Suffolk Police, 27-year-old Vincent Rienzie Jr. was driving a 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer west on Route 25 when his vehicle veered out of the lane and struck a bicyclist and a telephone pole in front of 1175 Route 25 at approximately 4:20 a.m.

The bicyclist, Stephen Salzman, 56, of Ridge, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Rienzie, of Miller Place, was transported by the Middle Island Fire Department to Stony Brook University Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Major Case Unit detectives charged Rienzie with driving while ability impaired by drugs. He is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday.