An off-duty Nassau County police officer was killed this morning after her car was struck by an alleged drunk driver in Suffolk County, according to authorities and the officer’s union.

Suffolk Police say the victim, 42-year-old Patricia Espinosa, was traveling westbound on Route 347 in Saint James near Smith Haven Mall at 6:06 a.m., when a driver — identified as Matthew Smith, 20, of Hauppauge drive through a red light while traveling northbound on Alexander Ave.

Police say Espinosa was driving a 2019 Alfa Romeo when she was hit by Smith, who was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Silverago pickup truck. Espinosa was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators say Smith and his passenger, John Andali, 25, of Centereach, went to Stony Brook University Hospital for their injuries, but each will recover. Smith has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated, police said.

“I had the honor of marching with her in the Puerto Rican Day parade,” wrote Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, as he offered condolences on the death of police officer Patricia Espinosa Saturday. (Photo: Instagram/@BruceBlakeman )

“Heartbroken over the passing of Police Officer Patricia Espinosa a beloved member of the Fifth Precinct,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman posted on social media. “I had the honor of marching with her in the Puerto Rican Day parade… I am ordering flags to be at half staff from Monday until burial,” he said.

“The Nassau PBA is devastated by the tragic loss of Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, a dedicated member of the Nassau County Police Department who gave her life in service to others,” Nassau County PBA President Tommy Shevlin said in a statement. “Officer Espinosa served with honor, courage, and compassion, and her death in a violent crash caused by a driver charged with DWI is a profound loss to our department, our county, and every community she protected.”

Shevlin said Espinosa was “the heart” of a law enforcement family. “Her husband Francisco Malaga, and her two brothers, Christian and David Almeida, all who proudly serve as police officers — and she leaves behind a two-year-old daughter Mia, who will grow up knowing their mother was a hero,” the statement added. “Patricia understood the sacrifices of this profession not just as an officer, but as a wife, a sister, and a mother in blue. That her life was taken in such a senseless act makes this loss even more painful. We stand shoulder to shoulder with her family and our brothers and sisters in uniform, and we will honor her legacy by never forgetting her service, her sacrifice, and the family she leaves behind.”

Suffolk detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553.

This is a breaking story. NBC New York will have a full report tonight on News 4 New York at 6:00 p.m.