New York State Police say that an off-duty NYPD officer was killed when a drunk driver rear-ended him. Kevin Jessup, 25, had been driving east on the Southern State Parkway when Jonathan Lopez struck his car around 5:35 a.m. yesterday morning. Jessup was pronounced dead at Nassau University Medical Center, while his passenger, Crystal Simons, was released after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Lopez himself was treated at the hospital but then released into custody. According to Newsday, after hitting Jessup's car, "Lopez then rear-ended a second vehicle." The 20-year-old was charged with vehicular manslaughter in the 2nd degree, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated, and two counts of assault in the 3rd degree. He is being held on $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash bail.
Jessup's father told Newday that his son joined the NYPD because of the September 11 attacks, so his death on the 10th anniversary was "Unbelievable. This is so ironic. It's just overwhelming."
