(USNewsBreak.com) – Learning to drive is a right of passage for most teenagers who get their learner’s permits between the ages of 14 and 16, depending on where they live. For most to gain their full driver’s license, they must have a specific number of driving hours and pass a road test to show they’ve developed the necessary skills to operate a vehicle. Sadly, one inexperienced teenage driver lost control of his car, resulting in the tragic death of a detective who was months away from retirement. Now, authorities have charged the aspiring driver as a juvenile.
The devastating accident occurred on December 1, 2022, claiming the life of 53-year-old Yonkers Detective Sgt. Frank Gualdino. The BMW driver involved in the mishap was a 16-year-old who had only received his learner’s permit. According to reports, he lost control of the vehicle, crossed over a double yellow line, and hit the detective’s car head-on. Gualdino later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. A grand jury indicted the teenager on Friday, October 27, and he turned himself over to authorities on Monday, October 30.
Veteran cop killed months before retirement by teen with driver's permit: prosecutor https://t.co/PnhOXL9V2o
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 1, 2023
Gualdino joined the Yonkers Police Department in 1998 after leaving the NYPD’s Transit Bureau. He was well-ingrained in the community, and his peers affectionately called him “Furby.” After his death, the police department promoted him to detective sergeant.
The investigation into the accident has taken nearly a year, but the teenager, who also received injuries in the crash, now faces charges of criminally negligent homicide. When he appeared in court, he was wearing the deceased’s handcuffs. The teen’s lawyer is pushing back against the criminal charges, saying family court should handle the matter.
It’s unclear whether the teenager in this case was driving alone or with a 21-year-old supervisor as required by New York law. The court has ordered the teen to appear again on December 15.
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