A Newsday investigation found that Suffolk police protected an off-duty officer from alcohol testing after he plowed a pickup truck into the rear of a car at a speed of more than 50 mph, fractured a 2-year-old boy’s skull, and caused other serious injuries.

Officer David Mascarella rear-ended a 2,000-pound Mitsubishi subcompact in August 2020 while operating a 4,500-pound Ram truck on Middle Country Road in St. James. Before the collision, a witness told police that Mascarella had been driving recklessly for about a mile and a half.

Kevin Cavooris, the driver of the Mitsubishi, had slowed down to make a left turn. Bastian, then 4 years old, and Riordan, then 2 years old, were in car seats that were fastened. Mascarella was several cars behind from them. He did not appear to have applied the brakes before to the pickup colliding with the Mitsubishi, according to the police accident report and crime scene graphic.

Cavooris’ nose was broken when the collision crushed the hatchback region of the Mitsubishi, turned the vehicle 180 degrees into the opposing traffic lane, and threw Cavooris’ head into the steering wheel. The car seat’s harness caused bruises to appear on Bastian’s thighs, shoulders, and chest. The skull of Riordan broke into bits that resembled jigsaw puzzles. The Ram made good progress without much damage.

The moments just prior to the collision, the impact and rescue efforts, as well as the actions of Mascarella and police officers after he drove away from the scene and into the parking lot of an auto dealership 400 feet down the road, were all captured on security cameras at four different businesses along Middle Country Road.

Cavooris’ nose was broken when the collision crushed the hatchback region of the Mitsubishi, turned the vehicle 180 degrees into the opposing traffic lane, and threw Cavooris’ head into the steering wheel. The car seat’s harness caused bruises to appear on Bastian’s thighs, shoulders, and chest. The skull of Riordan broke into bits that resembled jigsaw puzzles. The Ram made good progress without much damage.