POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY BE LIABLE FOR FATAL COLLISION BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (July 17, 2015)
A 21-year-old man was tragically killed and three other pedestrians were seriously injured when a drunk off-duty cop drove his SUV onto the sidewalk on Bedford Avenue, according to the New York Daily News. The police officer responsible for the accident has been charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors identified James Balchaunas as one of the three people that were hospitalized for their injuries. They also identified Sophia Tabachoun and Divya Menezes among the victims. The young man who died in the fatal crash has been identified as Andrew Esquivel. The accident in Williamsburg was on Bedford Avenue by North Eight Street. The off-duty officer was detained by witnesses after he drove his car onto the sidewalk. Witnesses to the accident described the scene as completely chaotic with one person pinned against a fence and another person with a severed leg. Unfortunately there have been a number of incidents involving drunken NYPD officers in recent years. The Police Department is currently being sued for 90 million after an off-duty police officer almost killed a random pedestrian with his service pistol. This accident seems to be part of a larger pattern. It may stem from the NYPD’s refusal to deal with the problem of alcohol abuse within their own ranks. If this is the case, there may be some degree of liability on the part of the NYPD for this deadly crash.
HELPING THOSE IN NEED BY RAISING AWARENESS
If you or someone that you know has been affected by this accident, we will gladly help raise awareness of any gofundme campaign set up to support the victim or their family. We can link to it in this post which is then spread across our social media platforms. You can send your request to: gofundmerequest@gmail.com. Our staff at the RMFW Law Firm were heartbroken to learn about this devastating car collision in Williamsburg. We extend our deepest sympathies to all of those who have been affected by this tragedy. It is an outrage that a public servant would act in such an indefensible manner. If there is any way at all that we could help those who have been affected by this tragedy, our phones are always on 212-344-1000.
