By NANCIE L. KATZ
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Originally published on March 12, 2004
The police officer who arrested a cop who is accused of killing a motorcyclist while driving drunk said a state highway officer at the scene suspected his colleague was intoxicated.
Even though he knew Police Officer Victor Wilson had failed his sobriety test at the scene, Sgt. Bruno Boluci told jurors yesterday that he considered him fit for duty based on his observations.
Wilson is on trial for vehicular manslaughter in the June 19, 2002 collision at 88th St. and Fort Hamilton Parkway, when his vehicle struck Stefano Kiladitis’ motorcycle. The 21-year-old died from his injuries three days later.
Kiladitis’ family has accused the NYPD of protecting their own in the collision. Prosecutors charge the Staten Island cop ran a red light after drinking at a bowling alley while off-duty.
Two hours after the accident, Wilson’s blood-alcohol level was 0.11%-.01% above the legal limit.
“He said the light was turning from green to yellow,” at the time of the accident, testified Boluci, who said he did not know at first that Wilson was a cop and did not detect alcohol until a state highway officer arrived.
Only after noticing a baton, patrol guide and other NYPD “paraphernalia” in Wilson’s car did he realize Wilson was a cop, he said.
“I went to Police Officer Wilson. I detected a very faint odor,” Boluci said. “I notified the duty captain. He ordered the officer to take a field sobriety test.”
He said Wilson later admitted he had “one beer.”
The officer faces up to seven years in prison if he is convicted of vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
