Off-Duty Cops May Have Been Drinking Before Fatal Crash

Yesterday's crash on the Bronx River Parkway that killed two off-duty NYPD cops and left four in critical condition may have been caused by drunk driving, according to the surviving passengers. Edwin Paulino, 25, and Kim Hoyoung, 32, of Harlem's 32nd precinct, were pinned inside the car after it slammed into a guard rail. One survivor, Melina Ramirez, suffered a broken leg and a fractured spine, and told relatives the cops had been drinking. Her sister told the Daily News, "I asked her, 'Did you ask if they were okay to drive?' And she told me he said, 'I'm a little bit tipsy, but I'm okay to drive.'"

So far, the police are blaming the crash on "driver inattentiveness"; according to the Post, "The cops have been tested for drugs and alcohol, but the results are so far inconclusive." The four female passengers were thrown from the car, a five-seat 2009 Nissan Altima (photo of the wrecked car), and all suffered broken bones and fractures. Mayor Bloomberg said of the accident, "It would appear that it's just a tragic accident and two police officers off-duty were killed. This investigation [is] ongoing. And to come on a day where you saw a police officer get hit by a motorcycle while he was chasing somebody...This just makes it so much worse somehow or other."

The passengers' families were in shock that the officers may have been drinking while driving with six people in a five-seat car (Hoyoung was reportedly the driver, though some accounts said it was unclear who was driving due to the wreckage). Melina Ramirez's mother said, "She's in bad shape. They are all in bad shape. How can [you] be a young police officer and drink if you are going to drive?" It is also unclear if any in the car were wearing seatbelts.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on May 17, 2010 9:49 AM

Comments [rss]

tnuc

This is a horrible tragedy and all you people can do is bash dead people. There is no proof yet that the driver was legally drunk. Next time you people get robbed don't call the police. I hope next time you drink you decide to walk home and trip and crack your head on the sidewalk and become a vegetable, and everyone makes fun of you for drinking at your bedside. That is all. Goodnight.

My condolence and prayers go out to all the family and friends of the deceased and injured. Speedy recovery to all including the cop struck in Brooklyn.

dadoc

Inconclusive? Reserving judgment, but one tube of blood and you can have it back in 10 minutes, even from a corpse. Drug tox a bit longer. If they weren't, post it up. If they were, same. Don't leave folks to argue their biases and stew in their prejudices. Let's have just one fact: BAL.

grifforama

drug and alcohol tests cannot be inconclusive.

you cannot get positive negative results. they are either drunk or not.

NannyState

At least we know how many stupid cops fit into a Nissan Altima.

ItchyGoiter

"How can [you] be a young police officer and drink if you are going to drive?"

...somebody's new around here.

twentyfive25

Adios and good riddance, drunk asshole cops.

Sketto

Problem is, drunk driving shitheads don't always just kill themselves. Sometimes they take a few of us with them.

Stevennnn

Strange how the men dead yet the women lived.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

disgusting how NYPD can't get their shit together.

John L

This is a very sad tragedy and my condolences go out to their families.

However, the truth is that off duty cops are some the most notorious drinkers and drivers in this city. They know that nothing will happen to them unless they hurt themselves or someone else. The NYPD knows that this is a problem and they look the other way and because of that lack of oversight these tragedies continue to happen.

I have a friend that was an NYPD police officer, to make a long story short, he got into a fender bender while drunk and, by his own admission, was in the wrong. Well when his brothers in blue arrived they totally changed the account of what happened on the police report and not only did my friend get away with the DWI but since now the accident was the other guy's fault, he also go a nice settlement from the insurance company. Just another day at the NYPD.

just saying

Disgusted, but not surprised.

Tell me again why more cops shouldn't be laid off. Just how effective is most of the NYPD? NYC must have some of the most lazy, useless cops in the nation. Even when they're just cruising around in their patrol cars, they blow through traffic lights and blatantly disregard traffic rules. Good job guys. Nothing like reinforcing your poor image with the locals.

Sketto

Of course they were drunk. This kind of avoidable, awful tragedy has become routine. It's unbelievable.

What the hell is going on in the NYPD! They can't go 60 days in a row without a cop killing themselves or others on our roads. I'm serious. Are they even talking about this honestly in their precincts? They have a fucking problem in their midst.

ProcedureTurn

Cops driving drunk.... I dont believe it...

legendary

Since when is a blood test for alcohol inconclusive?

faprilano

driver inattentiveness = drunk driving, plain and simple. watch the NYPD scramble to cover this up.

jsn

i have an ex who works at montefiore and she texted me when they all came in last night. Apparently it was so bad that one of the techs fainted when they came in. She said the cops were drunk.

dadoc

And your Ex can be fired and fined for such a stupid action as texting BS to an EX who blabs stuff on the web. You may want to let them know.

Jen Chung

Yikes! Given the photo of the wrecked car, it must have been horrible.

DarkGemini

"Unclear" if they were wearing seatbelts or not?

Unclear? Really?

Maybe they were wearing those automatic release versions that unlock just before you impact, allowing you to be thrown clear of the wreckage.

Maybe if the driver wasn't driving drunk and speeding like an asshat with 6 souls on board, this wouldn't have happened, how about that?

Clarice City

So far, the police are blaming the crash on "driver inattentiveness"; according to the Post, "The cops have been tested for drugs and alcohol, but the results are so far inconclusive."

Of Course! They just weren't paying attention. I would love to know how these so-called "inconclusive" tests became so inconclusive. Do drug and alchohol tests fail every time a drunk cop is behind the wheel?