Manslaughter Charges for Off-Duty NYPD Officer Who Fatally Struck Pedestrian, Injured 3 in Williamsburg: Police

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN, N.Y. — One person was killed and three others injured when an off-duty NYPD officer who was allegedly drunk struck four pedestrians in Williamsburg early Saturday morning, police said.

According to police, the crash took place on Bedford Avenue near the intersection of North 8th Street around 3 a.m.

Police said three males and one female were transported to local hospitals. A 21-year-old male transported to Bellevue Hospital was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The officer, identified as Nicholas Batka, was taken into custody and charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, DWI, driving while impaired, three counts of assault and driving on the sidewalk. He has been suspended from the force.

Batka was originally supposed to report for duty at 7 a.m. Saturday.

A witness at the scene told the New York Daily News the driver was trying to back out and people were holding the driver from leaving.

Patch will update this breaking news story.

Intersection of Bedford Avenue and North 8th Street via Google Street View