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West Side Crash Caused By Texting Off-Duty Cop?
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Dec 12, 2010
Modified Dec 12, 2010
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published Dec 12, 2010
Modified Dec 12, 2010
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Reader S. Marshall sent us these photos of a wild crash on the corner of Bethune Street and the West Street that happened around 2 p.m. He writes:
Around 2pm, myself and other residents of our building heard a terrific crash with no tire-skidding beforehand. The story ascertained by fellow residents by overhearing the police speaking to each other; an off-duty NY policeman (wearing a t-shirt that said, "I Prefer Beer To My Wife") was texting while driving (he exited his car while still texting), drove up on the sidewalk at a full rate of speed (cars fly along the West Side Highway doing 50+mph), hit the right ear corner of a parked Nissan Altima with Massachusettes plates, the force of which spun the moving car into a front window of the new Superior Ink apartment building (no skid marks whatsoever were evident on the street or sidewalk).
Marshall also told us, "The driver was stunned and bleeding a bit from a cut on his head, but didn't seem too injured to prevent him from continuing his texting and talking on the phone!" Wire reports say, "UNITS RESPONDING FOR A CAR VS BUILDING," at the location, and we've contacted the NYPD for more details. We will update if/when we hear back.
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Jaya Saxena
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