A member of the NYPD's Crash Investigation Squad working at the scene of a crash involving an off-duty police officer who was killed when his vehicle collided with a NYC Parks Department truck. PHOTO: EDWIN SOTO/PRIDE PHOTO
An off-duty New York City police officer died in a car crash in the Bronx while driving home from work Wednesday morning, police officials said.
NYPD officer Brian Kessler, 28 years old, was driving in his car north on Shore Road at about 8:20 a.m. when he collided with a New York City Parks Department truck, police said. Officer Kessler was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead at 9:15 a.m. Two Parks Department employees were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Officer Kessler had just finished a shift working security at police headquarters, police said.
“This was a collision with a city vehicle and it’s a horrible tragedy,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at an unrelated press briefing on Wednesday. “We lost a good young man who was serving this city and protecting us all. He was just on his way home and this horrible tragedy occurred.”
—Katie Honan contributed to this article.