An off-duty Nassau County police officer was killed this morning after her automobile was struck by an alleged drunk driver in Suffolk County, in accordance with authorities and the officer’s union.
Suffolk Police say the sufferer, 42-year-old Patricia Espinosa, was touring westbound on Route 347 in Saint James close to Smith Haven Mall at 6:06 a.m., when a driver — recognized as Matthew Smith, 20, of Hauppauge drive via a purple gentle whereas touring northbound on Alexander Ave.
Police say Espinosa was driving a 2019 Alfa Romeo when she was hit by Smith, who was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Silverago pickup truck. Espinosa was taken to Stony Brook College Hospital, the place she was pronounced lifeless.
Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa was killed in a Saturday morning automobile crash, allegedly attributable to a driver who was intoxicated. (Photograph offered by Nassau County PBA)
Investigators say Smith and his passenger, John Andali, 25, of Centereach, went to Stony Brook College Hospital for his or her accidents, however every will get better. Smith has been charged with Driving Whereas Intoxicated, police stated.
“Heartbroken over the passing of Police Officer Patricia Espinosa a beloved member of the Fifth Precinct,” Nassau County Government Bruce Blakeman posted on social media. “I had the distinction of marching together with her within the Puerto Rican Day parade… I’m ordering flags to be at half employees from Monday till burial,” he stated.
“The Nassau PBA is devastated by the tragic lack of Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, a devoted member of the Nassau County Police Division who gave her life in service to others,” Nassau County PBA President Tommy Shevlin stated in an announcement. “Officer Espinosa served with honor, braveness, and compassion, and her dying in a violent crash attributable to a driver charged with DWI is a profound loss to our division, our county, and each group she protected.”
Shevlin stated Espinosa was “the center” of a legislation enforcement household. “Her husband Francisco Malaga, and her two brothers, Christian and David Almeida, all who proudly function law enforcement officials — and she or he leaves behind a two-year-old daughter Mia, who will develop up realizing their mom was a hero,” the assertion added. “Patricia understood the sacrifices of this occupation not simply as an officer, however as a spouse, a sister, and a mom in blue. That her life was taken in such a mindless act makes this loss much more painful. We stand shoulder to shoulder together with her household and our brothers and sisters in uniform, and we are going to honor her legacy by by no means forgetting her service, her sacrifice, and the household she leaves behind.”
Suffolk detectives are asking anybody with data on the crash to name the Main Case Unit at 631-852-6553.
It is a breaking story. NBC New York could have a full report tonight on Information 4 New York at 6:00 p.m.
