State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblymember Nily Rozic are working on legislation to rename a Long Island Expressway overpass in Fresh Meadows after Detective Anastasios Tsakos, pictured, who was killed by a drunk driver in the line of duty (Photo: NYPD and GMaps)
May 20, 2022 By Czarinna Andres
Two eastern Queens lawmakers are working on renaming a Long Island Expressway overpass after an NYPD officer who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic on the thoroughfare last year.
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblymember Nily Rozic aim to have the overpass located at Francis Lewis Boulevard and Horace Harding Expressway called Detective Anastasio Tsakos Memorial Bridge.
Stavisky has sponsored and passed legislation in the senate, while Rozic has introduced a bill in the assembly that is moving through committee.
Tsakos, who had served 13 years with the NYPD as a highway officer, was killed during the early hours April 27, 2021, while he was directing traffic on the Long Island Expressway in Fresh Meadows after an earlier crash that evening.
He was struck by Jessica Beauvais at around 2 a.m., who was allegedly driving drunk and had a suspended license. Beauvais fled the scene but was later apprehended. She was later charged by a grand jury with a 13-count indictment including aggravated manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter.
Tsakos left behind a wife, a 6-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son.
“Detective Tsakos served honorably in the NYPD and his tragic, untimely loss has been felt in the hearts of many,” Rozic said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to honor his memory and service to New Yorkers with the renaming of the Fresh Meadow overpass as Detective Anastasio Tsakos Memorial Bridge.“
Stavisky said the renaming is a fitting honor.
“The Detective Anastasio Tsakos Memorial Bridge will not only keep his memory alive, but will also serve as a reminder of his heroism and line-of-duty death.”
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