A suspected drunken driver hit and killed a New York City Police Department highway officer who was investigating a deadly crash on the Long Island Expressway early Tuesday morning, officials said.
Officer Anastasios Tsakos was directing traffic after the fatal crash in Queens, New York, when a 2013 Volkswagen struck him about 2 a.m. ET, New York City Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea said during a morning news conference.
Tsakos, a 14-year veteran of the force, was taken to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries. He was 43 years old.
"Officer Anastasios Tsakos, a husband & father of 2 young kids, was tragically killed while protecting NYers," Shea tweeted. "The entire NYPD hurts ... as we reconcile the loss of our brother. A loss not only for our NYPD family, but all fo NYC."
He is survived by his wife, Irene, and their 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
Shea identified the sedan's driver as Jessica Beauvais, 32, of Hempstead, NBC New York reported. She was taken into custody on charges of vehicular manslaughter, suspended license and intoxicated driving after she drove away from the scene, he said.
It was unclear how the driver was captured, but Shea said the damage to her vehicle was substantial.
"There was no way to not know that you struck an individual," he said.
Efforts to reach Beauvais by phone Tuesday were unsuccessful. It was unclear if she had an attorney.
