Home / Crime and Justice / Drunk Driver Kills Officer at 70 MPH
Drunk Driver Kills Officer at 70 MPH
20 Jul
Summary
- Man pleads guilty to killing officer in drunk driving crash.
- Defendant was speeding at 70 mph and ran a red light.
- Officer was en route to work when the fatal collision occurred.
Matthew Smith, 20, has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide after a drunk driving incident that resulted in the death of Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa. The crash occurred in Lake Grove when Smith, traveling at 70 miles per hour while intoxicated, ran a red light and collided with Officer Espinosa's vehicle.
Officer Espinosa, 42, was en route to her duty at the time of the tragic event. The collision also caused serious injuries to Smith's passenger. Smith is now facing a potential prison sentence of up to 22 years for his crime.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about increased DWI arrests among young people on Long Island. Officer Espinosa is survived by her young daughter and her husband, who is also a Nassau County police officer.
