NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — An NYPD officer died after being struck by a car that fled the scene on the Long Island Expressway in Queens early Tuesday, officials said.
The incident occurred on the eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway near Francis Lewis Boulevard in the Fresh Meadows area just before 2 a.m.
The officer was later identified as 43-year-old Anastasios Tsakos, a 14-year veteran of the NYPD, father of two children, a 6-year-old daughter, and a 3-year-old son.
Officer Tsakos, assigned to the NYPD's Highway Patrol 3, was helping direct traffic at the scene of an earlier accident when he was hit by a 2013 Volkswagen that drove off, according to police.
"We stand here this morning reminded once again, in law enforcement, there is no such thing as a routine job," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said. "We stand here devastated and trying to pick up the pieces of what is a shattered home and a shattered NYPD family."
It was a "senseless and completely avoidable chain of events," Shea added.
Tsakos was transported to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in critical condition, but later died from his injuries, the NYPD said.
Officials launched a search for the driver and were able to catch up to the vehicle soon after along the Horace Harding Expressway, police said.
The driver, 32-year-old Jessica Beauvais from Hempstead, Long Island, was apprehended, Shea said.
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The woman had been driving while intoxicated and with a suspended license according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.
She swerved to avoid other vehicles and struck Officer Tsakos as he stood next to his marked vehicle, police said.
She is now facing over 10 charges including two counts of vehicular manslaughter, reckless endangerment, leaving an accident resulting in death, aggravated unlicensed operator, operating a motor vehicle with .08 of 1% alcohol, DWI - 1st Offense, DWAI Alcohol, reckless driving, motor vehicle license violation: no license and right of way violation: emergency motor vehicle.
"It's a very, very painful moment," de Blasio said. "Police Officer Anastasios Tsakos gave 14 years to this city protecting people, and that's what he was doing this evening. He was out there trying to make sure that everyone was safe, and he is dead because someone drove under the influence and recklessly. Someone drove with a suspended license. He's dead because he was at an accident where people had driven recklessly also with a suspended license."
Officials closed the eastbound side of the Long Island Express Tuesday morning from Exit 25 - Utopia Parkway to Exit 27 - Clearview Expressway to continue the investigation which remains ongoing.
