MARCH 24, 2015
LINDEN, NEW JERSEY
City police Officer Pedro Abad, who was driving the vehicle
involved in the Staten Island wrong-way crash in which two people were killed last
week, previously was charged with drunk driving in Rahway in 2013, according to
state motor vehicle records.
Abad, 27, a six-year veteran of the department, received
violations for refusing to take a chemical test and for driving under the
influence after an accident in Rahway on Feb. 26, 2013, according to records at
the state Motor Vehicle Commission.
Abad also received a violation for using a cell phone while
driving following a crash on Aug. 19, 2012 in Linden, according to their
records.
In Oct. 16, 2013, a judge imposed two suspensions of his
driver's license, one for each of the 2013 violations, and ordered that Abad
have an interlocking device installed on his car for 180 days, the records
state.
That ended on Sept. 11, 2014, according to the MVC records.
Abad served the suspensions and paid the fines, and his
driving privileges were restored on May 14, 2014, the records show.
Abad remains in critical condition at Richmond University
Medical Center in Staten Island, where he was taken following the crash shortly
before 5 a.m. in which he drove the wrong way on the West Shore Expressway and
collided head-on with a tractor-trailer.
Two passengers in the car, Linden Officer Frank Viggiano,
28, and Linden resident Joseph Rodriguez, 28, were fatally injured in the
crash.
Another Linden police officer, Patrik Kudlac, 23, was also
in the car and was critically injured in the crash. Kudlac remains in critical
condition in the intensive care unit at Staten Island University Hospital
North.
Linden police today, when asked about the 2013 charges,
declined to comment.
However, Linden police Capt. James Sarnicki previously said
that any prior accident or charge would be a part of an internal record which
would not be released.
"We would not necessarily be notified if an officer had
an off-duty accident unless there was a charge filed against him. If that was
the case, the officer would be required to notify our department and an
internal investigation of the incident would take place," Sarnicki said in
a statement.
The NYPD confirmed the four men were at the Curves strip
club before the 5 a.m. crash. Police said detectives are reviewing video
surveillance and interviewing staff at the club to determine if the men had
been drinking and have applied for a warrant to test Abad's blood for alcohol.
The general manager at Curves confirmed that the club does
serve alcohol, but would not say if the men were drinking.
"We are cooperating with the authorities on the
investigation, and they have asked us not to comment," said Curves General
Manager Tommy Ford. "Obviously we feel for the families. It's a tragedy.
You never want to be on the other end of that phone call."
An Instagram post from around 11 p.m. Thursday on Abad's
account shows a picture of shots at Central Park, a Roselle bar-restaurant,
with the caption "Jack Daniels Fire on the house" and a toast about
how he wants to settle down and have a family.
A manager from Central Park has not returned calls for
comments.
At a Friday press conference, Linden authorities would not
answer questions about where the men were or whether they were drinking.
"We will let the investigation air out what
happened," said Police Captain James Sarnicki. "We'll learn from what
happened today. And if there's any lessons to be learned, we'll take that
information, and I'm sure the chief will address any issues at that time." Sure, capitano. Just make sure you do not cover up the New
Jersey way. When it comes to citizens
you are always out there accusing the people of this and that. When comes to your drunk cops, you just
preach patience and cover-up. The good old New Jersey way.
Thank god the investigation is conducted by the New York
police who are more forthcoming and relatively more honest. The New Jersey cops are known for their
corruption and cover-ups that lead to disasters like the one caused by these
drunken cops.
Source:www.nj.com