Off-Duty NYPD Officer Accused Of Driving Drunk, Critically Injuring 2 Sisters
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An off-duty NYPD officer is accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that left two sisters in critical condition and another passenger injured.
CBS2 sources confirmed 32-year-old Neville Smith rear ended a Honda as he merged onto the Van Wyck Expressway near Rockaway Boulevard shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday.
Investigators said Smith was driving while intoxicated.
"It is very sad that a person of authority, a person who's sworn to protect the people, was intoxicated and got himself involved in a situation like that," Ravi Rattan, the priest for the victims' family, told CBS2's Hazel Sanchez.
Vanessa Raghubar, 22, was driving the car, while her sister, Maria, and Maria's boyfriend, Justin Harricharran, were in the backseat, Sanchez reported.
Family members said Vanessa suffered the most severe injuries and is on life support at Jamaica Hospital. Maria is in critical condition with broken bones in her arms and pelvic area and severe injuries to her kidneys and intestines.
Harricharran suffered bumps and bruises and is expected to fully recover.
Relatives said the Raghubar sisters and their boyfriends were an inseparable foursome, and they were out Saturday night celebrating Maria's 21st birthday.
Just a few minutes before the crash, Vanessa had dropped off her boyfriend.
Sunday night, family and friends were joined by religious leaders, holding vigil at the hospital and trying to come to grips with the tragedy.
"We're a very forgiving culture. The Hindu culture is a very forgiving culture. However, we are not very tolerant of people being intoxicated and operating vehicles," Rattan said.
Smith was charged with assault, vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated and refusing to take a breath test.
He has been a police officer for nearly six years and is currently assigned to the 48th Precinct detective squad in the Bronx, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported. He has been suspended for 30 days without pay.
