A New Jersey woman claims she endured “catastrophic and permanent injuries” in a car accident involving an allegedly-intoxicated NYPD officer who discharged his firearm during a road rage altercation, as detailed in a lawsuit.
Stephanie Hummel reportedly suffered a collapsed lung, multiple fractures, and “permanent cardiac dysfunction” after the off-duty Officer Hieu Tran shot at another driver in southern New Jersey, causing that vehicle to crash into hers, as stated in the Manhattan federal court filing.
Tran, 28, was reportedly on his way home to Yonkers from a wedding in May 2024 when he pulled up to a red light around 11 p.m. and, allegedly without provocation, fired at the adjacent vehicle before fleeing the scene, according to prosecutors and court documents.
The driver, Kishan Patel, who was heading home from his family’s liquor store, was wounded. His vehicle then rolled forward, slamming into Hummel’s car.
The incident rendered Patel, 30, who sued Tran in October, a paraplegic.
“He’s in horrific condition, probably has 10 to 50% brain function,” said Patel’s attorney Joseph Marrone, who noted that his client managed his family’s businesses and they are “millions of dollars in debt.”
The city and NYPD failed to act when they knew Tran, who had been transferred from Harlem to the department’s public information office, struggled with alcoholism and was on a “downward spiral,” according to the court papers.
“The City of New York and the NYPD are responsible for this tragic incident,” the victims said in court papers.
Tran was suspended without pay by the NYPD, the department said. The city said it would review the lawsuit when it is served.
Tran is being held in the Camden County Correctional Facility and pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder; weapon possession; aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim. A criminal lawyer for the officer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
