New York City
Road-rage eyed in off-duty cop's death
BY LUIS PEREZ and ROCCO PARASCANDOLA
NEWSDAY STAFF WRITERs
August 15, 2006
An off-duty New York City police officer was struck and killed by a volunteer firefighter who was driving drunk on the Henry Hudson Parkway early Monday morning, authorities said.
Nine-year veteran Eric Concepcion, 30, suffered severe head injuries in the 12:15 a.m. incident police characterized Monday as a road rage confrontation. After the accident, Concepcion was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital, where he later died.
Charges against the suspect, Robert Derian, 23, of Saddle River, N.J., were pending late Monday.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Derian had a blood alcohol level of .12 -- above the legal limit of .08 -- when he started flashing his Jeep Cherokee's blue emergency lights -- a staple among many volunteer firefighters -- during the confrontation.
Derian was driving north on the parkway, in the upper West 120s, when he pulled up alongside Concepcion and a friend, who were riding motorcycles, police said.
"Words may have been exchanged," Kelly said. "[Derian] had a blue light that he plugged into his cigarette lighter. He either tried to pull them over or tried to intimidate the individuals on the motorcycles.
"Around 134th Street and the West Side Highway the car strikes the officer on the motorcycle, strikes him and then rolls over the officer, killing him," Kelly said.
Concepcion worked at the 42nd Precinct and was assigned to the Yankee Stadium detail. His last shift ended 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Concepcion's family, including his wife, Melissa, was notified a short time later. Concepcion is the father of two daughters, ages 1 and 4. Family members could not be reached for commet Monday.
"It's a real tragedy," Kelly said.
Late Monday, Concepcion's off-duty handgun had not yet been recovered. Police suspect it was knocked from his body when he was run over, and that it may have landed on land under the elevated roadway.
Chief Stephen Flatley, head of the Saddle River Valley Rescue Squad, an all-volunteer department, said he was stunned by the news.
"I just beel very badly for the officer and his family," Flatley said. "It's really horrible."
Derian's first name is listed as Chase, an apparent nickname, on the squad's Web site.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said "every life lost is a tragedy.
"But when a member of the NYPD is killed, particularly in such a senseless act, I think it breaks all our hearts," Bloomberg added.
