Port Authority Police Suspended Over Crash That Kills Former MLB Pitcher: Sources

Law enforcement sources told The Post on Monday that two Port Authority detectives are in trouble for allegedly ignoring a driver who was driving the wrong way, who then killed police officer and former MLB pitcher Anthony Varvaro on a freeway in New York. Jersey.

Detectives Daniel Raphael and John Basil were suspended Jan. 13 for allegedly failing to report the errant driver when they spotted him en route to the annual Ground Zero ceremony on Sept. 11, sources said.

The rogue driver, 30-year-old Henry Plaras, later hit Varvaro, who was also on his way to the 9/11 memorial, on the New Jersey Turnpike Hudson Bay, causing the cop’s car to crash into a concrete barrier. Both Plaras and Varvaro, a married father of four and former Atlanta Braves hurler, died in a plane crash.

“This driver could have killed a lot of people while driving,” the source said. “All they had to do was report the driver and the officers would react to stop the driver.

“Perhaps they would have saved Officer Varvaro’s life,” the source said.

According to sources, the two detectives chatted about seeing a car going the wrong way when they arrived at Ground Zero, unaware of the fatal consequences of their inaction.

The Hudson County Attorney’s Office conducted an internal investigation into the incident and referred the case to the Port Authority “for administrative review,” a spokesman for the office said Monday.

Authorities have suspended the couple, as well as two other detectives who were allegedly linked to the incident and its aftermath, sources said.

Basil declined to comment when contacted by phone on Monday. Rafael did not return a phone call asking for comment.

Lenis Valens, a spokeswoman for the Port Authority, confirmed there were suspensions after the agency “immediately launched a thorough investigation” into the incident, but declined to provide details or name those involved.

“As a result of this investigation, the chief of police removed four officers from the Port Authority Police Department and a formal disciplinary process was initiated,” Valens said.

“In light of the upcoming disciplinary process, we will have no further comment on this other than to say that our hearts go out to the Varvaro family.”

In a statement to The Post, the Varvaro family said they were aware of an internal investigation into the two suspended detectives.

“We have kept our knowledge of this under wraps to ensure the integrity of the investigation as it unfolds, as well as to give our family time to heal without having to discuss this matter along with everything else,” the family members said.

“Like any other family, we want to have as much information as possible in order to have as much confidence as possible when we try to move forward. We have found that achieving this is far from being an easy and forgiving process.”

Frank Conti, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, told The Post that the union was aware of the internal investigation but declined to comment.

“It must be remembered that Anthony was away from his family on his day off to help secure the World Trade Center on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks,” Conti said. “His sacrifice that morning was an extension of his life of service to his community.”

Varvaro, also a beloved Staten Island youth coach, was on his way to his assignment at the 9/11 ceremony commemorating the 21st anniversary of the attacks when his Nissan Maxima was hit head-on near Exit 14C near Jersey City. police.

Plaras was driving a Toyota Rav4 when he crashed into a police car.

Varvaro, a St. John’s University graduate, played six years in the majors with the Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox between 2011 and 2015.

He left major companies in 2016 to become a Port Authority Police Officer.