According to one survivor, NYPD Officer Hoyoung Kim was supposed to have been the designated driver, but was "slightly intoxicated" when he crashed on the Bronx River Parkway on Saturday, killing himself and another off-duty cop and injuring four passengers. Police say blood alcohol tests have not been completed, but are blaming the crash on "driver inattentiveness," saying Kim wasn't paying attention and realized he was about to pass his exit.
Police and Kim's precinct described him as "very squared away. Getting behind the wheel intoxicated was the last thing he would do." The four critically injured female passengers just learned of the Officers' deaths yesterday, and were devastated. The four are being treated for multiple fractures and broken bones at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, and two, Melina Ramirez and Iris Gomez-Ramirez, may lose the ability to walk.
Melina Ramirez's brother was also shocked at the lack of contact from the NYPD. He said, "Not one single person from the NYPD or the city has asked us how she's doing or showed concern," and her mom said, "The police haven't explained anything to me—only that my daughter survived but the officers died." The four survivors' lawyer, Kenneth Litman, said he would attempt to sue Kim's estate.
