On Friday, Det. Lt. Patrick McCormack announced that the Yonkers Police Department had concluded an investigation into the Feb. 14 motor vehicle accident that occurred in the area of Palmer and Sunnybrook Roads that left Det. Frank Fernandez dead at the scene.
According to McCormack, shortly before 3 a.m. on Feb. 14, Fernandez’s Toyota Highlander was traveling westbound on Palmer Road when he collided with a Yonkers Fire Department apparatus that was traveling the opposite direction.
Fernandez would be announced dead at the scene, and several firefighters had to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Following a joint investigation between the Yonkers Police Department Detective, Internal Affairs and Traffic Divisions, it was determined that Fernandez’s blood alcohol content was .22 percent, nearly triple the legal limit. The investigation also determined that Fernandez had crossed over the double yellow line on Palmer Road before striking the Fire Department vehicle head on.
“We remain deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our Yonkers Police Department family,” Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said in a statement. “Det. Frank Fernandez was a valued member of the Yonkers Police Department with more than 15 years of dedicated service to the department and the Yonkers community.
“This unfortunate and tragic accident leaves behind a wife and two small children. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”
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