Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carnage

Two Drunk-Driving Cops Crash Cars In Two Nights

Drunk off-duty New York City police officers have crashed their vehicles each of the last two nights.

On Wednesday evening at around 6:20 p.m., the Daily News reported, officer Christine Mazarakes smashed her car at the corner of 81st Street and West End Avenue. Mazarakes, who is stationed at the Upper West Side's 24th precinct, was charged with a DWI and suspended.

The following night, Detective Thomas Handley flipped his car over while driving on the BQE at around 11:30. His injuries were somehow only minor, according to the News, and like Mazarakes, he was charged with a DWI and suspended.

The pair of drunk-driving crashes caused by New York's finest comes a few weeks after a similar crash on Brooklyn's Fifth Avenue. On March 15, Officer Sergio Gonzalez was arrested for driving under the influence after crashing his car into the back of a cab, speeding away from the scene of a crash and then hitting a police car further down the street. Two hypodermic needles were found in Gonzalez's car, according to the Park Slope Patch.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Gov. Hochul’s Car Insurance Proposal is a Disaster for Crash Victims’ Rights

As a state that values walking and biking, we cannot allow the governor to gut the rights of the people most at risk — especially since it won't lower insurance rates anyway.

January 26, 2026

Universal School Streets Will Be a Heavy Lift for Mamdani: Advocates

Can New York be the Paris of America? Mayor Mamdani will have to get to work on the DOT's "School Streets" program to make that happen.

January 26, 2026

Monday’s Headlines: Deliver the Goods Edition

Delivery workers braving the snow have more money in their pockets after judges threw out two app company lawsuits on Friday. Plus more news.

January 26, 2026

Driverless Vehicles — Who Needs Them?

That headline is not sarcastic — I mean it literally: Who will benefit from driverless cars?

January 26, 2026

Send Mayor Mamdani Your Sneckdown Photos! (‘Snow Problem, Streetsblog!’)

"Do you know what a sneckdown is?" "Sneckdown?" "Sneckdown." Therein lies a great story.

January 23, 2026

New Details: Hochul’s Car Insurance ‘Affordability’ Pitch Will Shortchange Crash Victims

Hochul's Uber-backed bid to make car insurance affordable hides harmful policies for victims of car drivers.

January 23, 2026
See all posts