Linden cop to be tested for GHB after wrong-way crash

A lawyer says a blood sample from a suspended New Jersey police officer charged with driving drunk will be tested for the date-rape drug following a March crash that killed two people.

Attorney Mario Gallucci previously suggested that an expert he hired found some evidence that could indicate suspended Linden police Officer Pedro Abad was given the drug known as GHB before the Staten Island crash.

Gallucci previously said that it is becoming common for strip clubs to offer GHB, which is short for gamma hydroxybutyrate, to men to try to get them to spend more money. He said in October that he is representing another client who claims he was drugged and involved in a crash on the same highway.

"If we find there was GHB in his system, it had to get there somehow," Gallucci said Tuesday after a brief court hearing. The results of those tests could become available by the end of January.

Abad did not attend Tuesday's hearing. Gallucci said Abad had surgery last week and suffered a setback.

Authorities said he was driving a car that collided head-on into a tractor-trailer. Authorities say Abad had a blood-alcohol level of 0.24 -- three-times the legal limit.

Prosecutors say Abad was drinking with friends at Curves, a Charleston strip club, just before the crash that killed Officer Frank Viggiano, and Joseph Rodriguez. Both were 28.

Abad and another passenger, Linden Police Officer Patrik Kudlac, 24, were badly hurt.

Abad has pleaded not guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and manslaughter charges.

The vehicular homicide charge carries up to 25 years in prison. He was released on $25,000 bail.

Abad is listed as suspended from the Linden Police Department until an internal investigation can be completed.

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