Newsday

Written by STRICKLER

So when his colleagues learned a New York City firefighter had run across the highway to rescue a Nassau police officer crushed in his cruiser Sunday, they weren't surprised it was Scarfi.

"The first thing you think of is, 'It's got to be Scarfi,' and of course it was Scarfi," said FDNY Capt. Vincent Ungaro, 51, of Scarfi, a 20-year FDNY veteran and former NYPD cop who was the lone survivor of a group he drove to the towers on 9/11.

Scarfi, 46, was driving to work early Sunday morning from his Deer Park home when he saw a vehicle crash into a Nassau police car parked next to the Long Island Expressway eastbound in Plainview. Scarfi pulled over, ran across six lanes, and pulled Nassau officer Kenneth Baribault from the wreckage. He then used Baribault's radio to alert police of the crash.

Baribault, 30, remains in critical but stable condition after suffering a life-threatening brain injury when a suspected drunken driver rear-ended his cruiser after he pulled over another motorist alleged to have been drinking.

Baribault, the father of a 6-year-old boy, spent a third day in intensive care yesterday at Nassau University Medical Center, where he was on a ventilator but occasionally initiated breaths, according to NUMC chairman of surgery Dr. Glenn Faust.

Several of Baribault's loved ones, including his parents, son, and sisters greeted a stream of uniformed officers through the day. "We just have to be patient," said sister Danielle Rella, 24.

Doctors yesterday credited Scarfi with helping get Baribault quickly into surgery to relieve swelling in his brain. "We just want to say thank you for what he did," Rella said.

At Engine Station 235 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Scarfi's friends said it was typical of him to help someone in distress.

"The guys are always breaking his chops that Phil's going to be late again," Ungaro said. "He's always helping someone on the side of the road."

Ungaro and others said Scarfi, who was a New York City police officer in 1987 for nine months before joining the FDNY, struggled after Sept. 11.

As the driver of the company truck that responded to the World Trade Centers attack, Scarfi stayed outside as five others rushed inside, said fireman Kevin Macbride, 53, of Merrick. All died, along with a chief who came in a separate vehicle. "I was the fortunate one to come home. They all lost their lives," Scarfi said.

In 2005, Scarfi was hurt in a Brooklyn building fire when a firefighter fell through a skylight, landing on Scarfi on the floor below. "I tried grabbing him to break his fall and we both tumbled down the stairs," he said. Scarfi, who has a shoulder injury, now talks to students and community groups about fire safety.

The driver who hit Baribault, Rahiem Griffin, 27, of Shirley, was being evaluated at the Nassau jail in East Meadow.

He faces vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated, and other charges. The sister-in-law of Marcin Bykuc, 25, the driver of the car Baribault pulled over, said Bykuc told her he tried to help Baribault.

She said Bykuc of Bay Shore, had a couple of drinks before he was pulled over. "Like many young kids, he made a mistake," she said. Bykuc pleaded not guilty to drunken driving and was released on bail. His next court date is June 18. He could not be reached.