Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes Into Washington Square Arch, Injures Police Officer
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — An allegedly drunk driver slammed into Washington Square Park's landmark marble arch on Sunday, injuring a police officer who was parked there to protect it, police said.
A Nissan Altima driven by 25-year-old Jeremy Molina, of Queens, crashed into the arch at the northern entrance to the park in Greenwich Village shortly before 1:30 a.m., an NYPD spokesperson said.
The Nissan then hit a police car that was parked near the arch, police said. The officer in the car was taken to a hospital with neck and back pain. The arch was not damaged.
Molina was arrested on charges including reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated and refusing to take a breath test. It's not clear whether he has an attorney who could comment on the charges.
The arch, designed by architect Stanford White and installed in 1892, commemorates the centennial of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as president.
It has been guarded by police officers since June, when its two statues of Washington were vandalized with red paint during weeks of protests against racial injustice.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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