A rookie police officer in Cape May County faces a long road to recovery after authorities say a suspected drunk driver struck him during a traffic stop Friday night.
Middle Township Police Officer Austin Kapurelos was seriously injured in the Oct. 16 crash on Route 47, just outside Wildwood. His condition has stabilized, but he suffered multiple significant injuries and has required surgery.
“He is back in surgery right now. He’s banged up pretty good. Multiple significant injuries,” said his father, Tony Kapurelos.
Police said the officer was standing outside his patrol car with its emergency lights flashing when he was struck by a Buick driven by 36-year-old Lucio Lopez-Perez, who has an address in Lower Township.
Lopez-Perez was arrested on several charges, including assault by auto and driving while intoxicated.
According to court records, police found open beers inside Lopez-Perez’s vehicle. He also allegedly told officers he had consumed alcoholic beverages throughout the day.
For Kapurelos’ father, the circumstances surrounding the crash have only added to the family’s anguish.
“Yeah, I’m angry. You know, there’s really no other way to convey it. It’s completely preventable. Shouldn’t have happened,” Tony Kapurelos said.
Middle Township Police Chief Tracey Super expressed similar frustration, noting the irony of an officer potentially looking for impaired drivers becoming the victim of one.
“It’s very frustrating knowing that Austin was most likely out there looking for intoxicated drivers and to be struck by one is very infuriating actually,” Super said.
The crash is part of a troubling trend across New Jersey.
According to the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Kapurelos is the fifth police officer in the state to be seriously injured in the past month in crashes involving impaired or careless drivers.
“It has been alarming at an alarming rate that these officers have been struck simply doing their jobs,” said New Jersey State PBA President Peter Andreyev.
Andreyev said drivers have plenty of alternatives to getting behind the wheel after drinking.
“There’s no reason in this day and age to drive intoxicated with the advent of Lyft and Uber and taxis and and all of the awareness that’s out there,” Andreyev said.
As Kapurelos continues his recovery, the Middle Township community is rallying around the young officer and his new wife.
A fundraiser is being organized to help the couple manage the unexpected financial burden resulting from his injuries.
“Her whole world’s been thrown upside down,” Tony Kapurelos said of his daughter-in-law.
He said she is grateful for the outpouring of support.
“She wanted to convey that she appreciates all the support from the community and especially the Middle Township Police Dept.,” he said.
Lopez-Perez is being held in the Cape May County Jail. As of the broadcast report, he was scheduled for a detention hearing Wednesday, Oct. 21.
It was not immediately clear whether Lopez-Perez had an attorney.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
