Cops: Off-Duty Firefighter Drove Drunk, Struck 2 Women
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An off-duty firefighter is accused of driving drunk and hitting two women with his SUV, one of whom was pregnant.
Sean Farrell, 39, a lieutenant with the FDNY's Battalion 16 in Harlem, was driving on White Plains Road near Westchester Avenue in the Bronx around 6 p.m. Wednesday when he struck the women, police said.
As CBS 2's Dick Brennan reported, Farrell was also arrested for DWI in 2010, when he allegedly got into a fender bender and then a fight with a cab driver.
Farrell remained at the scene of Wednesday's accident, told officers he had drank two beers and refused to take a Breathalyzer test, police said. He's been charged with DWI and refusing to take a breath test.
He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday night.
Mamtaz Begun, 42, who was seven months pregnant, was walking across the street with a 39-year-old friend when they were struck.
Begun was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, where the baby, a girl, was delivered successfully.
While both victims are in stable condition with back and neck injuries, Mousami Alchter, Begun's 17-year-old daughter, was in tears as she discussed her mother's injuries with Brennan.
"She don't talk to anyone.," Alchter said. " ... She was bleeding too much, and the doctor told her now you cannot talk to anyone."
Alchter said Begun was on the way home from a doctor visit at the time of the accident.
She said doctors have some concerns about the strength of the baby's heart, but added she is expected to be fine.
Farrell, a 10-year veteran, has been suspended for 30 days without pay, an FDNY spokeswoman said. Attorney information for him wasn't immediately available.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories