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NCPD Commends Officer Struck By Alleged Drunk Driver

A Nassau County police officer on DWI patrol was struck by an alleged drunk driver on New Year’s Eve suffering multiple life-threatening and serious injuries. The driver’s vehicle crossed over a double yellow line along Glen Cove Road in Roslyn and crashed into the officer’s patrol car head-on at around 2:30 a.m.  Officer Willard Gomes is listed in serious but stable condition and is expected  to survive.

Nassau PBA President James McDermott, who visited Officer Gomes earlier today, released the following statement: “Officer Gomes, a 12 year veteran of the Nassau PD, was on DWI patrol and sustained multiple injuries during an accident caused by an alleged drunk motorist. I would like to commend officer Gomes for his commitment to the department and for putting his life on the line during one of the business nights of the year for drinking and driving arrests. Our prayers are with him and his family during this time of crisis and hope he will fully recover as quickly as possible.”

In addition to sustaining a head injury, causing swelling and bleeding on his brain, officer Gomes suffered broken vertebrae in his neck, a broken left arm, a broken left leg, a cracked rib with a contusion to the lung, various injuries to the face and lost several teeth from the crash. The alleged drunk driver, who suffered a broken ankle, was expected to be charged with 2nd degree vehicular assault and 2nd degree assault and driving while intoxicated.