Yonkers on-duty police sergeant killed in head-on, multi-vehicle crash involving teen driver
YONKERS, Westchester County (WABC) -- Authorities have identified the veteran Yonkers police sergeant killed Thursday in a head-on, multi-vehicle crash in Westchester County.
53-year-old Sgt. Frank Gualdino was a 24-year veteran of the Yonkers Police Department, a supervisor assigned to the Traffic Unit.
He was set to retire next August.
The crash that claimed his life happened around 3:30 p.m. Thursday on Tuckahoe Road at the Sprain Brook Parkway overpass.
A preliminary investigation found that Sgt. Gualdino, who was on-duty driving an unmarked Chevy Impala police vehicle, was traveling westbound on Tuckahoe Road when a BMW M5 sedan traveling eastbound lost control and crossed into the opposite lanes, striking the sergeant's vehicle and a Westchester County Bee-Line bus.
Dash camera video played at a news conference Friday showed the moments before the crash occurred.
The BMW is seen speeding across several lanes and crossing the double-yellow line into oncoming traffic.
The sergeant was the sole occupant of the unmarked vehicle that was hit.
He was transported to Jacobi Medical Center in critical condition and later died from his injuries.
Police say the BMW was driven by a 16-year-old boy with a learner's permit. He remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The driver of the bus suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and several of the roughly 30 bus passengers were treated at scene for minor injuries.
Investigators say the teen at the wheel of the BMW, which is owned by a family member, had his learner's permit for about two weeks.
The vehicle was not stolen.
Sgt. Gualdino, who lived in Mahopac, NY, is being remembered as a well-liked, community-oriented officer. He is survived by his wife and two children.
"Our hearts are broken tonight and we ask that you please keep the Sergeant's family in your thoughts and prayers," Yonkers Police Department said in a statement after the crash.
A solemn procession of police vehicles transported Sgt. Gualdino's body Thursday night.
Purple and blue lights bathed the front of the Yonkers Police headquarters, where the flag was already lowered to half-staff.
"It's a time for mourning here for us in Yonkers," Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said. "We lost a member of our family we lost a member of our law enforcement community and the men and women in this department are hurting,"
On Friday, Commissioner Keechant Sewell tweeted condolences on behalf of the NYPD:
The entire NYPD family stands with our @YonkersPD brothers & sisters as they mourn the loss of Sergeant Frank Gualdino, who was tragically killed in a vehicle collision yesterday. He leaves behind a wife & two children. Our prayers & deepest condolences are with his loved ones.
Sgt Gualdino was honored in October for aiding an unconscious three-year-old boy during the funeral procession for a former Westchester County corrections officer.
During the October 27 procession, the young relative of the deceased became unconscious.
Sgt. Gualdino rushed to the boy's aid, taking him to the hospital in his cruiser.
Other Yonkers Police officers then comforted the widow of the deceased corrections officer, who had "fainted from the entire ordeal."
Yonkers Police continued the escort uninterrupted to Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, and Gualdino visited the boy at the hospital after the funeral was over.
The family later sent a letter of appreciation, which was posted by Yonkers police on their Facebook page.
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Tuckahoe Road was closed in both directions Thursday night and commuters were urged avoid the area.
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