Thousands of police officers attended a funeral mass Monday morning for Nassau County Police highway patrolman Joseph Olivieri who died last week after being struck by a car on the Long Island Expressway.
Adding to the tragedy, Olivieri’s ex-wife Christine Bregante, 39, was found dead in her home hours after the funeral, according to the New York Daily News. The Suffolk County Police Department said that they could not comment on Bregante’s death, as it was a non-criminal matter.
The driver of a car involved in the accident Thursday morning that led to the death of Olivieri, 43, is facing criminal charges, Nassau County police said on Friday.
James Ryan, 25, of Oakdale was charged with vehicular manslaughter, reckless endangerment in the 2nd degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated and leaving an incident without a report.
According to police, Olivieri was killed when a Cadillac Escalade swerved and stuck him while unsuccessfully trying to avoid Ryan’s 2010 Toyota Camry on the Long Island Expressway. The Camry was in the middle of the left lane on the LIE after hitting one car, leaving the scene and being struck by another vehicle, police said.
Ryan will be arraigned Friday at 1st District Court in Hempstead.
Olivieri was hit while responding to the multi-car pileup, which took place on the LIE near exit 35 in North Hills.
Olivieri then radioed for assistance and was taken to North Shore University Hospital on Community Drive in Manhasset, where he was pronounced dead at 5:25 a.m.
Olivieri served 13 years on the Nassau County force after a five-year stint with the New York Police Department. He is survived by his son Daniel, 18, and his daughter Amanda, 21.
Nassau County Police Benevolent Association President James Carver said that Olivieri will be sadly missed.
“He loved the job that he did. He was a quiet guy, but he was dedicated to his job and dedicated to his family,” said Carver. “He was a very active police officer, someone who all his colleagues had a great deal of respect for.”
Police announced the closure of the eastbound expressway between exits 33-35 at 5:15 a.m., according to the Department’s public information office, the road had not been reopened as of 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Google traffic data from Thursday afternoon shows heavy delays for the five-mile strech of the L.I.E. between Francis Lewis Boulevard and New Hyde Park Road.
Olivieri’s death was the end result of a series of accidents that began at approximately 4:35 a.m. on the LIE, slightly more than half a mile from the New Hyde Park Road overpass.
Ryan’s 2010 Toyota Camry struck a 2008 BMW traveling eastbound on the expressway, according to the police report. The BMW pulled over and the driver of the Camry attempted to leave the scene before stopping in the left lane and hitting another car – a 2005 Honda Civic that was traveling in the left lane.
The Civic spun across the highway after the impact, stopping near exit 35 while facing the wrong direction.
The Camry came to rest against the cement barrier of the HOV lane, perpendicular to the median, according to police.
Olivieri, responding to a call about a flat tire, observed the scene and exited his car to offer assistance. Detective Vincent Garcia said the drivers of the Civic and a Ford Escape, which pulled over at the scene, left their cars to help the driver of the Camry.
Olivieri was hit when the driver of the Escalade did not see the unlit Camry facing the wrong way in the HOV lane and swerved without warning.
Flags at county buildings are flying at half mast on the order of Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, who released a statement mourning Olivieri’s death.
““My deepest sympathies go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Nassau County Police Officer Joseph Olivieri,” Mangano said in the statement. “Police Officer Olivieri’s dedication to keeping Nassau County safe deserves the highest recognition and sincere gratitude of our residents.”
Carver said that the general public underestimates the risks that highway patrolmen like Olivieri face.
“It’s probably one of the most dangerous things that we do on a daily basis,” he said. “[The public thinks] that because this is Nassau County, not much happens. But in the middle of the night he’s out there assisting people, helping them, and this accident happens.
Reach reporter Dan Glaun by e-mail at dglaun@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
