NYPD Officer dies in car accident

Off-duty NYPD Officer Kevin Jessup, 25, died Sunday morning after he was struck by another vehicle on the Southern State Parkway, officers said.

East Meadow resident Jonathan Lopez, 20, was driving a Nissan when he allegedly hit Jessup’s Nissan Maxima and then rear-ended a third vehicle operated by Dawn Smallwood from Melville.

Jessup, a Massapequa resident, and his passenger, Crystal Simons, 30, were transported to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Simons was admitted with non-life threatening injuries. Lopez and Smallwood were also treated and released from local hospitals.

Lopez is charged with vehicular manslaughter in the 2nd degree, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated, and two counts of assault in the 3rd degree, said Deputy Director of Communications Chris Munzing. His bail is set at $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash and he is due back in court on Sept. 14.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact the New York State Police at (631) 756-3300.