STATEN ISLAND — A former Linden police officer was found guilty Thursday of vehicular homicide for the fatal drunken wrong way crash that killed two of his friends.
After a two-week trial, the jury convicted Pedro Abad, 29, for his role in the alcohol-fueled car accident that killed Joseph Rodriguez, 28, and Linden police officer Frank Viggiano, 28.
"Mr. Abad’s fateful choice to get behind the wheel while he was heavily intoxicated ended in a horrific and deadly crash that cost two of his friends their lives and seriously injured a third passenger," District Attorney Michael McMahon said after the verdict.
"Today’s top-count conviction ensures that Mr. Abad will spend many years behind bars and that he is held accountable for the devastation he has caused. We hope and pray that this verdict gives some closure to the families and friends of all the victims affected by this tragedy."
On March 19, 2015, while off-duty, Abad went to Central Park bar in Rosedale, New Jersey, with fellow Linden police officer Patrick Kudlac and another friend, Michael Rizzo, to get dinner and drinks at about 8 p.m.
Kudlac testified in court that the pair downed two Jack and Cokes and two shots of Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire during dinner there and later headed to Curves Gentleman's Club, at 2945 Arthur Kill Rd., with Abad behind the wheel.
Prosecutors said Abad got to strip club around 2:21 a.m. and kept drinking inside. He eventually left early March 20, 2015 with Kudlac, Rodriguez and Viggiano in his 2015 Honda Civic.
Abad got onto the West Shore Expressway the wrong way near the Arden Avenue exit and sped down the highway until he slammed head-on into a tractor trailer without braking, prosecutors said.
Rodrgiuez and Viggiano died in the crash. Kudlac, Abad and the driver of the truck were left injured. Kudlac also left the police force after the crash.
A blood sample revealed that Abad had a .24 percent blood-alcohol content after the crash, three times the legal limit of .08 percent, and an EMS worker testified that he had a very strong odor of alcohol on him, prosecutors said.
Abad was found guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, aggravated vehicular assault and faces between eight-and-a-third to 25 years in prison for the charges, the DA's office said.
He's scheduled to be sentenced June 8.
