NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

And I just got home from the Press Conference on the Courage to Serve Exhibit about Policemen struck by drunk drivers. I felt so good leaving there and when I got home I rec'd a phone call from the media and MADD about this.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/cops-nypd-officer-killed-by-wrong-way-drunken-driver-1.2462706?p=

A New York City police officer on his way home from work was hit and killed by a wrong-way drunken driver early Monday on the Northern State Parkway in Dix Hills, State Police said.

Officer Andre Menzies, 35, of North Babylon, was driving east on the parkway, east of Wolf Hill Road, Exit 41, at about 12:05 a.m. when a Chevrolet Astro van driven by Michael Bowen, 50, of Brooklyn, was going the wrong way and hit Menzies' Honda, police said.

Menzies, a city police officer for nine years assigned to the Queens housing bureau, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

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Bowen was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, police said. Bowen submitted to a breath-analyzer test, police said, although they did not release the results. He was treated for minor injuries at Huntington Hospital and released.

Bowen is being held in Suffolk County First District Court pending arraignment. Additional charges are pending upon completion of the investigation, police said.

Tom Magno, assistant chief of the Dix Hills Fire Department, said when rescuers arrived at the scene Menzies was trapped in his car.

"He apparently was killed on impact," Magno said.

Witnesses at the scene told police that Bowen's van was driving the wrong way on the parkway, Magno said. Magno said police closed the eastbound lanes of the parkway for several hours to conduct an investigation.

Rescue personnel also conducted a search of the area for a possible passenger ejected from a vehicle. A search that included thermal imaging, canine patrols and helicopters did not turn up any ejected passengers, Magno said.

Witnesses to the accident are urged to call New York State police at 631-756-3300.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

This is right below it on Newsday's site:

Five police officers killed or injured in the line of duty by suspected drunken drivers are honored in an exhibit called the "The Courage to Serve" which is on display this week at Roosevelt Field.

Two Long Islanders are among those featured.

Suffolk County Officer Glen Ciano was killed while responding to an assistance call on Feb. 22, 2009. His cruiser was struck by a suspected drunken-driver making a turn onto Commack Road. He was 45 years old, married, the father of two. He'd been on the job 22 years.

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Nassau County Officer Ken Baribault, was severely injured May 18, 2008, when his patrol unit was rear-ended by an accused drunken driver on the Long Island Expressway while the officer was conducting a traffic stop on a suspected drunken driver.

The exhibit comes to Long Island through the efforts of Baribault's sister Danielle Rella, Nassau County police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Ceremonies Monday will also feature Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, District Attorney Kathleen Rice and Patrolmen's Benevolent Association president Jim Carver. The exhibit is funded by the Lewis Henry Morgan Institute at the State University of New York Institute of Technology in Utica and the National Highway Safety Administration.

Other officers profiled in the exhibit are Trooper Robert W. Ambrose, killed on the thruway in Yonkers on Dec. 19, 2002; Trooper Anthony Catalfamo Jr., who returned to work after before struck by a drunken driver in 2002; and Officer Aldo A. Rossi Jr., the only officer in the history of the Port Dickinson police department ever killed in the line of duty. Rossi was killed July 27, 2008.

The exhibit will be located at Roosevelt Field, in Garden City, in the Macy's Court near the Disney Store, officials said

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Terrible!!!!!

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Absolutely heartbreaking my prayers go out to the family

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Ugh, how horrible.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

DaniRella -
I'm sure this brings it all back to you as if it wasn't fresh in your mind enough these days.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

OMG, I just hate this!!!!! ARRGGGHHH! Why o why do people insist on drinking and driving??????

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Seriously? When will people learn NOT to drink and drive. So frustrating and so sad.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

omg.

When will people learn that it is not ok to drink and drive ?

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

This is just terrible.

On another note- Danielle - we're looking forward to going to see the exhibit this week. My DH is also ncpd so we've followed Ken's story/progress since the accident. I think it's great what you've done

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Posted by Bearcat

This is just terrible.

On another note- Danielle - we're looking forward to going to see the exhibit this week. My DH is also ncpd so we've followed Ken's story/progress since the accident. I think it's great what you've done

Message edited 11/15/2010 2:41:48 PM.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

So sad.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

just awful

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

OMG

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

so sad enough with these drunk drivers already!

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

sad, tragic, unnecessary, terrible.



Accidents like these should NEVER happen. Period!! Stop with the f*in drunk driving!!! UGH!!!

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

So Sad.... He was in my Academy Class

We work All night... Disputes, gun runs, EDP's and whatever else the night may bring.
We run all night long... Then you sign out for the night and think your safe and get to go home.... Then this happens....

It really makes me so mad....

You will forever be in my thoughts and prayers..

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

These stories just break my heart.

My prayers are with his family.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

That is so sad and scary. My prayers go out to his loved ones.

Re: NYPD Officer killed by wrong-way driver on Northern Parkway last night:

I hate to hear this. My prayers are most def with the officers family. Why is it that the drunks always survive!?