Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Suspected DWI in Fatal Long Island Hit-and Run
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 26, 2009
Modified Jan 26, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 26, 2009
Modified Jan 26, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Suffolk County police tell Newsday that a 25-year-old driver, who was lost as she was trying to find the Long Island Expressway, was fatally struck by an apparently drunk driver. Melissa Scherr had been on the cellphone with her boyfriend, trying to make her way to the highway from Melville, when her Nissan 200SX was hit from behind and thrown into a utility pole. Douglas Davis, driving a pick-up truck, was arrested for DWI and fleeing the scene. He was found after a volunteer firefighter responding to the crash noticed a man inspecting damage to the front of his vehicle in a parking lot—and the firefighter "smelled burning rubber and antifreeze coming from the truck," plus noticed both of the truck's air bags were out.
Tagged
drunk driving
fatal DWI
long island expressway
suffolk county
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mayor Mamdani orders review of NYPD use of force policies
The announcement comes as Mamdani faces mounting criticism from the left for his approach to policing.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 12, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
Company that won $23M NYPD building contract was investigated by LI watchdog
Nassau County's inspector general questioned whether E&A Restoration had the “requisite business integrity” to be responsible for an $85 million contract to build a courthouse in Mineola.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
Company that won $23M NYPD building contract was investigated by LI watchdog
Nassau County's inspector general questioned whether E&A Restoration had the “requisite business integrity” to be responsible for an $85 million contract to build a courthouse in Mineola.
By
Ben Feuerherd
Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says
By
Michael Sol Warren
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
By
Giulia Heyward
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
By
Mike Hayes
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .