NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A car went off the Henry Hudson Parkway and crashed into a tree early Sunday, killing two people, including an off-duty NYPD officer, officials said.
The white Mercedes was heading south on the parkway, near 96th Street on the Upper West Side, just before 4 a.m. when it struck the tree and erupted in fire, according to police.
Despite firefighters’ efforts to get a man and woman out of the Mercedes, they died inside the vehicle, which was barely recognizable Sunday morning after being consumed by flames.
Police said the victims were 24-year-old Kimberly Lajara, who was driving, and 32-year-old Oscar Monegro.
The 121st Precinct confirmed that Lajara was an NYPD officer.
"Rest In Peace Police Officer Lajara. You will be missed by your entire 121 Precinct Family," the precinct tweeted.
“We’re mourning the loss of one of New York’s Finest today,” Mayor de Blasio tweeted. “We lost an NYPD Officer today after a terrible car crash early this morning,” de Blasio tweeted.
Paul, who was in Riverside Park Sunday morning, took a look at the badly mangled vehicle.
“I’ve never seen it like that. That’s one of the worst accidents I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I’ve never seen a car quite that mangled and destroyed. Wow.”
He says he’ll take the crash as a premonition.
“I think I’ll take it a little slower today,” he said. “Be careful.”