Mom of cop charged in hit and run

BY VICTOR G. MIMONI

Thursday, August 9, 2007 10:02 AM EDT

A 54-year-old Forest Hills woman who allegedly admitted to drinking a bottle of vodka before getting behind the wheel is facing seven years in prison on numerous charges, including vehicular assault, reckless endangerment and drunk driving.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the defendant as Susan E. Karnabe, 54, of 65-15 Alderton Street in Forest Hills. She is accused of mowing down three people - including a three-year-old girl in a stroller, her grandmother and great-grandmother - as they crossed the street and then leaving the scene of the accident, with the child's carriage lodged under her car.

According to Brown, 57-year-old Aviva Govshovitz was walking across the intersection of Gerard Place and Yellowstone Boulevard at 2:45 p.m., on Saturday, August 4. She was with her 86-year-old mother, Frida Shein, and granddaughter, who was riding in a baby stroller.

Brown alleges that Karnabe was driving her dark grey 1987 Mazda RX7 and struck the victims, ejecting the toddler.

The girl, Mia Tetelman, who lives in Hewlett, Long Island, suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs and bruising of the lungs. As of press time, she remained in critical condition in a local Queens hospital, intubated and unconscious.

Shein suffered a broken rib and other injuries. Govshovitz suffered numerous cuts and bruises. Both were treated and released at New York Hospital Queens.

Brown further alleges that although Karnabe was told what had happened, she continued to her home, where she was arrested.

According to published reports, she suffered a seizure while in police custody and was taken to a local hospital. She was arraigned at her bedside before Judge Robert Raciti, who set bail at $250,000 bond or $100,000 cash. In addition to imprisonment, Karnabe would have to submit a DNA sample if convicted of reckless endangerment.

Karnabe is reportedly the mother of a NYC police officer, and allegedly tried to visit him at his apartment before the accident which landed her in jail.