Officer Injured in Parked Vehicle when Drunk Driver Smashes into New York City Landmark
A suspected intoxicated driver in New York City slammed into Washington Square Park’s landmark marble arch on Sunday, injuring a police officer who was parked there to protect it, police told NBC.
The officer was guarding the arch against vandalism by anarchists and Black Lives Matter protesters. Statues of George Washington on the sides of the arch were attacked with red paint in the summer.
A Nissan Altima driven by 25-year-old Jeremy Molina, of Queens, crashed into the arch at the northern entrance to the Greenwich Village park shortly before 1:30 a.m., a police spokesperson said.
The Nissan then hit a police car that was parked near the arch, police said. The officer in the car was taken to a hospital with neck and back pain. The arch was not damaged.
Molina was arrested on charges including reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated and refusing to take a breath test. It’s not clear whether he has an attorney who could comment on the charges.
