NYPD commissioner's wife gets summons for driving without valid insurance

In the United States, specifically New York City, Deirdre O’Connor, the wife of former interim NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon, was involved in a traffic incident on Monday night, which led to her facing legal repercussions. The collision occurred around 5:40 p.m. near East 53rd Street and First Avenue in Manhattan. O’Connor was driving a 2019 white Honda CRV when she was rear-ended by another vehicle, which subsequently fled the scene. The impact from the rear-end collision caused O’Connor’s vehicle to lurch forward into a 2020 black Toyota Sienna, which was operating as an Uber, transporting a 46-year-old man in a motorized wheelchair at the time of the accident. As a result of the crash, the man suffered back and neck injuries and was transported to NYU Langone Hospital, where he was reported to be stable. O’Connor, having been involved in the accident, remained at the scene along with the 56-year-old Uber driver until law enforcement officers arrived. In the process of the investigation, it became apparent that O’Connor was driving without valid insurance, which led to her being issued a summons for the lapse. The situation was made more complicated due to the public profile of O’Connor’s husband, Tom Donlon. Donlon, who previously held a significant position as the interim NYPD Commissioner and has a background in the FBI, reportedly claimed he was unaware of the incident until contacted by reporters. When he learned about his wife’s arrest, he made an appearance at the 17th Precinct, but it remains unclear whether he arrived during her processing or afterward. As the investigation continues, the individual who rear-ended O’Connor's vehicle has yet to be located. The police are still pursing leads regarding the fleeing driver. Meanwhile, the relationship status between O’Connor and Donlon appears to be uncertain, given that they have separate home addresses but are listed as spouses in public records. O’Connor did not respond to requests for comments following the incident. This case raises questions about legal accountability and the responsibilities of drivers regarding insurance coverage.