Retired New York police officer charged in car accident

A former cop is facing serious charges for his role in a car crash that killed a 54-year-old woman on the night of Nov. 14, according to police sources. The retired local officer was arrested by New York authorities and charged with drunk driving after the fatal car accident. So far, he has not had his day in court, and it has not been determined if he has retained an attorney. 

According to the accident report, the 57-year-old man was driving an SUV when another SUV that failed to give right-of-way pulled in front of him. The resulting T-bone crash killed a 54-year-old passenger in the second vehicle. The driver and another passenger were taken to a local hospital with injuries that are considered serious but not life threatening. 

Police on the scene interviewed the man and determined he was drunk. He was charged with DWI, vehicular manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide. It is unclear whether the driver of the other vehicle, who technically predicated the crash, will face charges as well. 

Even though the driver of the other vehicle appears to have been technically at fault for the car accident, New York law frowns upon drunk driving in all cases. It may still have been possible for the man to have avoided the accident if he had been sober at the time. As a result, he could face serious penalties, if convicted. In addition, the family of the deceased passenger and those left alive, but injured, will have grounds to file for wrongful death and personal injury, even if no criminal conviction is won. 

Source: NBC New York, “Retired Cop Facing Homicide, DWI Charges in Fatal NY Crash“, Nov. 16, 2015