Off-Duty Cop Killed by Drunk Driver

An off-duty police officer riding his motorcycle was run over by an SUV driven by a drunk volunteer firefighter from NJ yesterday morning. Eric Concepcion, a Bronx native who worked the Yankee Stadium detail, had been riding on the West Side Highway with a friend when Robert Derian put a blue emergency light on his Jeep Cherokee, possibly trying to pull them over. Then Dorian crashed his car into Concepcion's bike; Derian ended up "pushing the bike 1000 feet," stopping at West 133rd Street and the West Side Highway, with Concepcion dragged for part of that distance. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that "words may have been exchanged" between Concepcion and Derian, a volunteer firefighter from Saddle River, NJ, and the police say that Derian "chased" Concepcion and his friend for five miles, raising the possibility that Derian had road rage. Derian's blood alcohol level was 0.12, well above the 0.08 legal limit. The Post said that Derian "made an attempt to pose as a good Samaritan and save the dying Concepcion" but witnesses set the police straight. Of course, Derian's lawyer claims that he was just trying to help - "He pulled over to render air and assistance."

Concepcion died at St. Luke's Hospital; he leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. Derian was charged with manslaughter, vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and unauthorized use of emergency lights. The Saddle River Valley Rescue squard told the Times that they are not trained to pull over vehicles.

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By Jen Chung in News on August 15, 2006 8:40 AM

Comments [rss]

jakolin

I know the mother of the guy that was drunk and believe me he is out of jail already, that's what the money can do. The guy had drugs and alcohol problems. I bet if he was a black or spanish there was no chance to get out of jail even for a million dollar bail.

Jerky2

If he had installed his audible signal bell as the law requires, everything would have been ok, but I'm still surprised the NYPD didn't give his corpse a summons; clearly, riding a motorcycle in traffic is not only far too dangerous but jeopardizes our post-911 security and must immediately be "regulated". Following the accident, Ray Kelly today proposed banning all non-SUV traffic in the city, stating, "When the time comes that people actually have to pedal, walk, or take public transportation to get their swerve on, then for sure, we will know that the terrorists have won".

Gwinny

An SUV owner driving angrily and recklessly? What a shocker!! (the drunkenness only adds to the fun!)

I'm not saying that regular car owners don't drive recklessly, but I've witnessed a lot more dangerous driving done by owners of these oversized, overly-powerful vehicles than by those in smaller cars.

g

Clearly this is the fault of those pesky Critical Mass riders.

nelson muntz

HA HA!

Wonder who's side will the NYPD be on or will mayor nanny say Motorcycles are dangerous and he shouldn't be riding it at night.

blahblah

terrible, when will people learn about drunk driving...

Rodney P. Sweetchops

mmmm squards...

bethrobe

People think that cops abuse DWI & traffic laws a lot, volunteer fireman (not even full time!), abuse them pretty badly. May this be a lesson: You may think flashing your blue lights on Bell Blvd makes you look awesome and it attracts the barely legal hotties, but you're going to kill someone.

mickster

Talk about pulling over...he pulled right over the bike. And soon he'll be bending over at Riker's. You can bet he'll end up in a very small cell with a very large man if the guards exact revenge on behalf of the fallen officer...