Vanessa Raghubar, 22, went out for a night of fun to celebrate her sister’s birthday. After a sober night of fun, Vanessa, the designated driver for the night, proceeded to drive her sister and boyfriend home.

Around 4 a.m. while on the expressway Vanessa and her passengers were rear-ended which sent the car crashing into a tree and pole.

The person who rear-ended the car was 32 year-old New York City Police Officer, Neville Smith. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular assault and refusal to take a breathalyzer.

Vanessa passed away the next day due to internal bleeding in her brain. Her sister, Maria Raghubar, 21, and Maria’s boyfriend, Justin Harricharran, 20, are in the hospital. Due to the crash Maria broke her left arm, her hip and injured her internal organs and is currently in critical condition.

Smith has been placed on 30 day suspension without pay.

The initial charge was vehicular assault which has been upgraded to vehicular manslaughter since Vanessa died from injuries and criminally negligent homicide. We should assume that since he is an officer of the law and held to higher standard, his suspension will turn into a termination.

He killed someone and critically injured two people because he chose to get drunk and drive home.

Let’s think about how drunk you have to be to rear-end someone on the expressway at 4 a.m., when there is little to no traffic.

“Drinking and then driving is a deadly combination. The defendant — a police officer bound to enforce the law — is now accused of breaking the law and with deadly consequences,” said District Attorney Richard Brown.

Smith is being held on $300,000 bond.