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Sen. Schumer Pushes For LIE Safety Review

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York Sen. Charles Schumer is calling for a safety audit of the Long Island Expressway.

Schumer was urging state and federal highway regulators to come up with safety enhancements following the death last month of a Nassau County highway patrolman.

Officer Michael Califano was killed during a routine traffic stop when a passing truck smashed into his cruiser. The truck driver has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the crash. Police believe he may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Schumer said Califano's death was just the latest in a series of tragic crashes on the highway.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Highway Administration said the agency is working with New York officials to improve roadway safety, but did not elaborate.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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