Off-Duty Suffolk County Police Officer Charged with DWI After Striking Pedestrian in Huntington

DWI Crash Injures Pedestrian

• 🚗 An off-duty Suffolk County police officer, Alexander Vargas, 30, has been charged with driving while intoxicated following a crash.
• 💥 The incident occurred when Vargas, driving a Chevy Camaro, allegedly struck a pedestrian, identified as 28-year-old Jorge Alfaro.
• 📍 The crash happened on New York Avenue at the Carver Street intersection in Huntington.

Pedestrian's Condition and Circumstances

• 🤕 Alfaro was transported to Huntington Hospital with serious injuries and is facing a long recovery.
• 🚶 Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise and seeing Alfaro on the ground, with first responders arriving shortly after.
• ❓ Alfaro's cousin believes he may have been working and briefly running to a gas station when the incident occurred.

Community Concerns and Officer's Status

• 🚦 A neighbor expressed concerns about the intersection's safety, suggesting the need for stop signs or traffic signals to reduce speeding.
• 🚨 Vargas, assigned to the second precinct covering Huntington, remained on the scene after the crash.
• ⚖️ He has been suspended without pay following the incident.