Two Die In Fiery Crash On Henry Hudson Parkway, Police Say

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Two people, one an off-duty NYPD officer, died Sunday in a fiery crash on an Upper West Side portion of the Henry Hudson Parkway.

Kimberly Lajara, a 24-year-old NYPD officer, was driving a 2016 Mercedes Benz on the highway near West 96th Street at 3:45 a.m. when she lost control of the vehicle, mounted a median and crashed into a tree, police said. The car burst into flames following the crash and the vehicle was "consumed by fire," police said.

Lajara and 32-year-old passenger Oscar Monegro were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, police said.

Lajara served as an officer at the NYPD's 121st Precinct on Staten Island. The precinct's commanding officer, Bruce Ceparano, posted a tribute to the officer on social media.

"Rest In Peace Police Officer Lajara. You will be missed by your entire 121 Precinct Family," the precinct commander Tweeted.

Ceparano followed up the tweet by urging members of Lajara's family to reach out to the precinct if they need support in the wake of her death.