Prosecutors: Man admitted drinking, using drugs before head-on crash with officer

<p>The New Hyde Park man who crashed head-on into a Nassau County police officer's vehicle on New Year's Day had a blood alcohol level more than two times the legal limit, according to prosecutors.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 2, 2018, 11:07 PM

Updated 2,321 days ago

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The New Hyde Park man who crashed head-on into a Nassau County police officer's vehicle on New Year's Day had a blood alcohol level more than two times the legal limit, according to prosecutors. 
Prosecutors say Keith Dillon, 29, was driving his Dodge Durango south on Glen Cove Road in Greenvale around 2:20 a.m. They say he allegedly swerved and ended up riding the center median before slamming into Officer Willard Gomes' unmarked patrol car – throwing it about 50 feet into another car.
During his hospital bedside arraignment at Nassau University Medical Center, prosecutors said Keith Dillon told police at the scene that he had been at a number of establishments before the crash. 
They say he told them he had six to eight glasses of wine, shots of Jameson whiskey and multiple beers. 
Officials say he also admitted to taking medicinal marijuana at some point in the night. In his truck, prosecutors say there were two bags of Xanax and what appeared to be cocaine residue.
Police say Gomes suffered bleeding on the brain, a broken vertebra in his neck, a broken arm and leg and other serious injuries. 
The Nassau PBA president released a statement that said in part, "I would like to commend Officer Gomes for his commitment to the department and for putting his life on the line during one of the busiest nights of the year for drinking and driving. Our prayers are with him and his family during this time of crisis and we hope he will fully recover as quickly as possible."
Dillon pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular assault, reckless assault, DWI and criminal possession of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $100,000.


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