She leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter, police said. (Nassau County PBA)
SAINT JAMES, NY — A Nassau County police officer was killed after being hit by a drunk driver in Saint James early Saturday, police said.
According to Suffolk County police, the crash took place at 6:06 a.m. on Route 347 at Alexander Avenue.
Matthew Smith, 20, of Hauppauge, was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Alexander Avenue when he failed to stop at a red light and struck a 2019 Alfa Romeo traveling westbound on Route 347, police said.
The driver of the Alfa Romeo, Patricia Espinosa, 42, a Nassau County police officer, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where she was pronounced dead., police said.
Smith, 20, of Hauppauge, and his passenger, John Andali, 25, of Centereach, were both transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Smith was arrested and charged with DWI, police said.
Courtesy Nassau County PBANassau County PBA President Tommy Shevlin released a statement after the crash: "The Nassau PBA is devastated by the tragic loss of Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, a dedicated member of the Nassau County Police Department who gave her life in service to others. Officer Espinosa served with honor, courage, and compassion, and her death in a violent crash caused by a driver charged with DWI is a profound loss to our department, our county, and every community she protected."Courtesy Nassau County PBA"Officer Espinosa was the heart of a true law-enforcement family — her husband Francisco Malaga, and her two brothers, Christian and David Almeida, all who proudly serve as police officers — and she leaves behind a two-year-old daughter Mia, who will grow up knowing their mother was a hero," he said. "Patricia understood the sacrifices of this profession not just as an officer, but as a wife, a sister, and a mother in blue. That her life was taken in such a senseless act makes this loss even more painful. We stand shoulder to shoulder with her family and our brothers and sisters in uniform, and we will honor her legacy by never forgetting her service, her sacrifice, and the family she leaves behind.”Courtesy Nassau County PBABoth vehicles were impounded and the investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the major case unit at 631-852-6553.Source: https://patch.com/new-york/smithtown/nassau-county-police-officer-killed-after-being-struck-drunk-driver-suffolk-pd
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