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Click the link for pics to go along with story. Guy has 8 accidents and two DUIs. Refused chemical tests both times. Can barely stand or speak in the dash board cam video for the seocnd DUI. For the latest accident, they tested 18 wheeler driver the same day (even though he was just working) but apparently a warrant is needed to test the driver of the cars blood for alcohol. He lived and a passenger in the backseat lived. 3 police officers and one friend who was on the verge of becoming a cop.
http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2015/03/linden_officer_in_wrong-way_cra****wice_charged_wi.html
UPDATE: Linden cop in wrong-way crash had two DUIs, multiple accidents on record
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Linden police officers (from left to right) - Pedro J. Abad, Jr. (critical)., Frank C. Viggiano (deceased), Patrik Kudlac (critical)
Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Print Email Tom Haydon and Jessica Remo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Tom Haydon and Jessica Remo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 24, 2015 at 8:16 PM, updated March 24, 2015 at 10:09 PM
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Wrong-way Crash
Dashcam captures Linden officer, wrong-way crash driver, during earlier DUI arrest (VIDEO)
UPDATE: Linden cop in wrong-way crash had two DUIs, multiple accidents on record
Linden police officer who drove wrong way in fatal crash charged with DUI in 2013
Services announced for Linden officer, resident killed in wrong-way crash
Linden man killed in wrong-way crash 'didn't deserve this,' sister says
All Stories |
LINDEN — A city officer who crashed his car while driving the wrong way on a Staten Island highway last week, fatally injuring a fellow officer and a passenger and critically injuring another officer, had previously been charged with drunk driving in two separate incidents over the last four years and was captured on a police dash camera unable to complete a sobriety test in 2013.
VIDEO: Dashcam captures Linden officer during earlier DUI arrest
Officer Pedro Abad, 27, a six-year veteran of the department, was charged with driving while intoxicated and careless driving in Roselle in January 2011, borough police confirmed. Abad was also charged with driving under the influence, DWI in a school zone, and refusal to submit to a chemical test for a crash in Rahway on Feb. 26, 2013, according to police records. Earlier today, NJ Advance Media reported he had lost his license as a result of a 2013 DUI.
In the 2013 incident, Abad drove his car into a parked vehicle and was unable to complete a sobriety test, according to a police report. The report says Abad was unable to correctly answer an officer asking if he knew where he was, answering instead "I'm at Patria." The report also describes him as smelling of alcohol, leaning against the patrol car for balance with "bloodshot, watery eyes," "droopy eyelids," and slurred speech.
In a police dash camera video from that incident, Abad is seen stumbling, slurring his words, failing a sobriety test and asking for "Officer Webb," an officer on the scene, saying he knows him from the academy.
Motor vehicle records say in Oct. 16, 2013, a judge imposed two concurrent suspensions of Abad's license for the Rahway incident. Those suspensions were served, Abad paid the imposed fines, and his license was restored on May 14, 2014.
He was also required to install an interlocking device on his car until Sept. 11, 2014, according to state records.
The Monroe Street resident whose parked car Abad hit in 2013, Carolyn Johnson, said she hadn't realized the connection to last week's crash.
"That's unbelievable," Johnson said. "I can't believe they actually made him a cop."
Around 5 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2013, Johnson and her husband were woken up by what she described as the sound of an engine revving followed by a loud "boom." Johnson went outside to find her 2002 Toyota Camry, parked on the street outside her home, had been hit by Abad's car.
Johnson said Abad's job never came up at the accident scene, or when the matter proceeded to court. The fields on the arrest report asking for Abad's employer and occupation are blank.
He "was very apologetic," Johnson recalled. "I'm just surprised. I did not know that he was a police officer when he hit my car, and it was never mentioned when we went to court."
Johnson said her car was totaled in the accident and she had to get a new one.
"But life goes on," Johnson said. "I forgave him. I just thank God that no one was hurt, no one was in the car. At least he hit a parked car."
It was unclear, however, what happened in the Roselle DUI accident. The accident report and details about the adjudication of those charges were not immediately available.
Abad was also charged with using a cellphone while driving in an Aug. 19, 2012 accident in Linden, the records state. He was in a total of eight accidents from September 2005 through June 2013, according to state records. The records do not indicate who was at fault and do not identify where the other six accidents occurred.
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.
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."
Union County reporter Katie Lannan contributed to this story.
http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2015/03/linden_officer_in_wrong-way_cra****wice_charged_wi.html
UPDATE: Linden cop in wrong-way crash had two DUIs, multiple accidents on record
1 / 56
Linden police officers (from left to right) - Pedro J. Abad, Jr. (critical)., Frank C. Viggiano (deceased), Patrik Kudlac (critical)
Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Print Email Tom Haydon and Jessica Remo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Tom Haydon and Jessica Remo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 24, 2015 at 8:16 PM, updated March 24, 2015 at 10:09 PM
0
Wrong-way Crash
Dashcam captures Linden officer, wrong-way crash driver, during earlier DUI arrest (VIDEO)
UPDATE: Linden cop in wrong-way crash had two DUIs, multiple accidents on record
Linden police officer who drove wrong way in fatal crash charged with DUI in 2013
Services announced for Linden officer, resident killed in wrong-way crash
Linden man killed in wrong-way crash 'didn't deserve this,' sister says
All Stories |
LINDEN — A city officer who crashed his car while driving the wrong way on a Staten Island highway last week, fatally injuring a fellow officer and a passenger and critically injuring another officer, had previously been charged with drunk driving in two separate incidents over the last four years and was captured on a police dash camera unable to complete a sobriety test in 2013.
VIDEO: Dashcam captures Linden officer during earlier DUI arrest
Officer Pedro Abad, 27, a six-year veteran of the department, was charged with driving while intoxicated and careless driving in Roselle in January 2011, borough police confirmed. Abad was also charged with driving under the influence, DWI in a school zone, and refusal to submit to a chemical test for a crash in Rahway on Feb. 26, 2013, according to police records. Earlier today, NJ Advance Media reported he had lost his license as a result of a 2013 DUI.
In the 2013 incident, Abad drove his car into a parked vehicle and was unable to complete a sobriety test, according to a police report. The report says Abad was unable to correctly answer an officer asking if he knew where he was, answering instead "I'm at Patria." The report also describes him as smelling of alcohol, leaning against the patrol car for balance with "bloodshot, watery eyes," "droopy eyelids," and slurred speech.
In a police dash camera video from that incident, Abad is seen stumbling, slurring his words, failing a sobriety test and asking for "Officer Webb," an officer on the scene, saying he knows him from the academy.
Motor vehicle records say in Oct. 16, 2013, a judge imposed two concurrent suspensions of Abad's license for the Rahway incident. Those suspensions were served, Abad paid the imposed fines, and his license was restored on May 14, 2014.
He was also required to install an interlocking device on his car until Sept. 11, 2014, according to state records.
The Monroe Street resident whose parked car Abad hit in 2013, Carolyn Johnson, said she hadn't realized the connection to last week's crash.
"That's unbelievable," Johnson said. "I can't believe they actually made him a cop."
Around 5 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2013, Johnson and her husband were woken up by what she described as the sound of an engine revving followed by a loud "boom." Johnson went outside to find her 2002 Toyota Camry, parked on the street outside her home, had been hit by Abad's car.
Johnson said Abad's job never came up at the accident scene, or when the matter proceeded to court. The fields on the arrest report asking for Abad's employer and occupation are blank.
He "was very apologetic," Johnson recalled. "I'm just surprised. I did not know that he was a police officer when he hit my car, and it was never mentioned when we went to court."
Johnson said her car was totaled in the accident and she had to get a new one.
"But life goes on," Johnson said. "I forgave him. I just thank God that no one was hurt, no one was in the car. At least he hit a parked car."
It was unclear, however, what happened in the Roselle DUI accident. The accident report and details about the adjudication of those charges were not immediately available.
Abad was also charged with using a cellphone while driving in an Aug. 19, 2012 accident in Linden, the records state. He was in a total of eight accidents from September 2005 through June 2013, according to state records. The records do not indicate who was at fault and do not identify where the other six accidents occurred.
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.
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."
Union County reporter Katie Lannan contributed to this story.
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