Teen killed on LIE told mom he was scared

Moments after his car came to a stop on the Long Island Expressway in Ronkonkoma, relatives said, William Schettino called his mother to say he'd had an accident.

His car was disabled -- stuck in the westbound HOV lane -- shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday.

"I'm scared," the 18-year-old from Blue Point told her.

Jo Ann Schettino instructed her son to stay in the car and call 911, family members said Thursday. She arrived at the scene minutes after her son was killed -- struck by a Suffolk County sheriff's office patrol car as he stood near his car, officials said.

Sheriff's Chief of Staff Michael Sharkey said the deputy involved had been blinded by sun glare and was surprised by the stopped 2011 Mazda.

Sharkey said the deputy, Richard Tedesco, tried to swerve to his left onto a marked shoulder, but he clipped the Mazda and struck the teen.

"Our deputy attempted to avoid the vehicle, and the operator was in the road," Sharkey said.

Tedesco, 37, a deputy since 2007 and assigned to highway enforcement in 2008, had been driving in the HOV lane on routine patrol, according to Sharkey.

Photographs from the scene show damage to the right side of the patrol car's windshield.

An investigation into the accident is continuing. Following standard procedure, the Suffolk County district attorney's office and the State Police are involved, authorities said.

Officials said witnesses were still being interviewed and that a complete picture of the circumstances had yet to emerge, including whether another driver had struck Schettino's car before the fatal crash.

Schettino's family, meanwhile, complained Thursday about the limited information they have received from investigators.

"I totally understand where the family is coming from," Sharkey said. ". . . They've been involved in a tragic incident and they want as much information as they can get."

Luigi Schettino, the victim's father, said his son was headed to night classes at Suffolk County Community College's Brentwood campus when the fatal accident happened at 5:49 p.m.

"It's puzzling how the Lord takes such a great kid," he said.

An uncle, Richard Zagger, said his nephew called home shortly before he was struck to tell his mother he had been involved in an accident.

Zagger said his nephew told his mother he didn't feel safe where the car was stopped on the expressway. He said he had activated his hazard lights.

Family members said they believe Schettino had been involved in a hit-and-run accident and was urged to call 911.

Authorities said Schettino was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The deputy was treated and released, authorities said.

It was not clear how long it would take to complete the investigation -- or when information from the accident reconstruction might be released. A State Police spokesman cautioned such a reconstruction could take months.

With Ellen Yan, Tania Lopez, Bill Mason and Olivia Winslow

Rules for the road

Here's what to do if your vehicle becomes disabled in a high traffic area:

Turn on your vehicle's hazard lights.

If possible, safely move your vehicle off the road, away from traffic.

Stay inside your vehicle once it is off the road and make all passengers stay inside, too. Keep doors locked.

If you're unable to get off the roadway, get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place about 60 feet away from the rear of it. That way the traffic sees you before they see your car.

Raise the vehicle's hood, tie a white cloth to a door handle or use reflective triangles or flares.

Set triangles or flares up behind the disabled car to alert approaching motorists.

Source: AAA New York