Funeral Held For Linden Police Officer Killed In Wrong-Way Staten Island Crash
LINDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Mourners remembered an off-duty Linden police officer Thursday killed in a wrong-way crash on Staten Island that also left one man dead and two other officers seriously injured.
Officers from multiple departments lined the streets as services were held for 28-year-old Officer Frank Viggiano at Linden Presbyterian Church. Dozens of police and firefighters stood at attention as pallbearers brought the coffin inside.
Loved ones remembered him as someone always willing to lend a helping hand.
"He was a good friend and he always helped me," friend Robert Thieling told CBS2's Andrea Grymes. "Helped everyone, never did wrong."
Viggiano was also remembered as an avid fisherman.
"He loved to fish...he loved everybody," Thieling said.
Thieling was wearing a fishing hook on his blazer pocket from one of their trips, WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported.
Funeral Held For Linden Police Officer Killed In Wrong-Way Staten Island Crash
Viggiano served with the Linden police for five years. He'll be buried in Fairview.
The 28-year-old and Joseph Rodriguez died when the car they were riding in crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer on the West Shore Expressway on Friday.
Rodriguez was laid to rest on Wednesday.
Officers Pedro Abad Jr., who was driving the car, and Patrik Kudlac, remain hospitalized.
Authorities have said the four men were headed home after a night at a strip club. All of the officers were off-duty at the time and it's not clear if alcohol played a role in the crash. Investigators have applied for a warrant to test Abad's blood-alcohol level.
Hours earlier, Abad had posted a photo on his Instagram page of three shot glasses filled with what he identified as "Jack Daniels Fire on the house."
In 2011, Roselle police say Abad was charged with a DUI after he allegedly drove his car into a supermarket, but the charge was dismissed.
In October of 2013, he had his license suspended for seven months, said Elyse Coffey, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
The suspension stemmed from an accident in Rahway, New Jersey, in February of that year. A judge found he refused to submit to a chemical test and was also driving under the influence.
His license was restored in March 2014, but he had to use an ignition lock until September 2014.
Abad, who was hired as a police officer in 2008, was on the force at the time of the suspension. Linden police Capt. James Sarnicki said any discipline would be an internal personnel matter and would not be made public.
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