A notice of intent to sue the City of Linden was filed on behalf of Patrik Kudlac - a Linden police officer who was critically injured in the March 20 wrong-way crash in Staten Island - over its handling of Pedro Abad's prior drunk driving incident in Roselle.
In a tort claim filed last month by David Wikstrom, a Springfield attorney representing Kudlac, questions the handling of a prior drunk-driving ticket issued against Abad for an accident in 2011in the borough of Roselle.
On March 20, Abad drove his Honda Civic the wrong-way on the West Shore Expressway when he crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer killing two passengers and critically injuring the third passenger, Kudlac, who was a rear seat passenger of the vehicle.
The two other passengers, later identified as Linden Officer Frank Viggiano and Joseph Rodriguez were fatally injured in the crash.
According to reports, Abad's blood-alcohol was level three times the legal limit at the time of the crash.
Kudlac suffered serious injures that kept him in the hospital for months before being released to undergo physical therapy for his injuries.
Abad is still recovering from the March 20 crash in a rehabilitation center.
No charges have been filed against Abad for the March 20 crash in Staten Island.
Relate story: https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/linden-authorities-identify-officers-killed-new-york-crash