Crime & Safety

Cops: Off Duty NYPD Officer From Massapequa Killed by Drunk Driver

Off-duty officer Kevin Jessup was killed early Sunday morning.

An East Meadow man was arrested after an off-duty New York City Police officer from Massapequa was killed in a three-vehicle crash on the Southern State Parkway early Sunday morning.

According to New York State Police, off-duty officer Kevin Jessup, 25, of Massapequa, was driving a Nissan Maxima east of the Bethpage Parkway when he was struck by another Nissan driven by Jonathan Lopez, 20, of East Meadow, around 5:35 a.m., police said. Lopez then rear ended a third vehicle.

Jessup and a passenger were transported to Nassau University Medical Center where Jessup was pronounced dead, police said. The passenger in Jessup's vehicle was admitted for non-life threatening injuries. Lopez and the driver of the second car Lopez hit were treated and released from area hospitals.

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Lopez was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, speeding and two counts of assault in the third degree.

Jessup was a three-year veteran assigned to the 106th Precinct in Queens, according to an NYPD spokesman.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is urged to call the New York State Police at 631-756-3300.


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