Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
DWI Cop Story About Helping Victim "Bull," Says Source
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 3, 2009
Modified Oct 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 3, 2009
Modified Oct 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The lawyer for the off-duty police officer who fatally ran over a Brooklyn woman Saturday night has tried to cast his client in a heroic light by telling the press that he almost saved the woman's life, and even resuscitated her momentarily. But an anonymous "source" tells the Daily News, "That story is a bunch of bull. He barely touched the girl. His hands were almost on her stomach, not her chest. His mouth never even touched her mouth."
Rev. Varius Valnord, the father of victim Vionique Valnord, says officer Andrew Kelly's claim that he desperately tried to save his daughter is "an insult. He's trying to take the blame from himself. He's the one to blame. I forgive him, but the lord will do the right thing." Kelly, who may be asked to testify before a grand jury as early as next week, today passed an apology letter to the Valnord's family.
It's unclear what Kelly wrote in the letter, but Vionique's devastated mother Philoisa tells NY1, "This letter does not give me my daughter back. I don't need it... I don't think there is much he could say that would make me forget my daughter, because she's dead. And she is my only daughter. I loved her so much. I remember her everyday. I hope we get justice."
It's also been reported that one of the officers who first responded to the accident scene has been suspended for allegedly giving Kelly two bottles of water and gum after the crash, ostensibly to cover up his inebriation. Sanford Rubenstein, Valnords' lawyer, tells the News, "This would be another example of police attempting to help cover-up for a fellow officer who may have committed a serious crime. No matter what spin is being attempted, the facts speak for themselves. He was not sober at the time of this tragedy." When Kelly was finally tested for alcohol seven hours later, there was no booze in his blood.
Tagged
andrew kelly
apology
cop
dwi
nypd
Vionique Valnord
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
16 arrested in New York auto insurance fraud crackdown involving nearly $500K
State officials say the cases include staged crashes and fraudulent medical claims, with seven arrests in the Bronx alone.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 6:34 p.m. ET
Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city
It's in the private community of Sea Gate. Family members of the lighthouse's last civilian keeper are keeping its history alive.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city
It's in the private community of Sea Gate. Family members of the lighthouse's last civilian keeper are keeping its history alive.
By
Catalina Gonella
New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino
By
Willow Higgins
Inside Luigi Mangione's legal strategy before his federal guilty plea
By
Samantha Max
NYC proposes crackdown down on AI customer service chatbots
By
Arya Sundaram
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .