New Rochelle High School Swim Coach Kip Fierro, Driving on a Suspended License, Causes Three Car Collision Injuring Local Elementary School Teacher

Written By: Robert Cox

Kip FierroEdward “Kip” Fierro, the long-time swim coach at New Rochelle High School, was taken into custody a week ago last Thursday by New Rochelle police after he struck two vehicles in New Rochelle and left the scene of the accident. A DMV records check showed that although he had a valid Connecticut drivers license, his privilege to drive in New York had been suspended for failure to answer a summons.

Fierro was issued a 511-1a violation, an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of between $200.00 and $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, 0 points and a mandatory surcharge of $80 or $85. He was due back in court today.

New Rochelle police were called to the scene at 8:11 am on January 19th. Two drivers heading westbound on the North Avenue overpass were stopped at the yield sign at the intersection of the Elmer Miller Circle at Memorial Highway. Fierro, driving a 2004 Jeep, came up behind the two vehicles, sideswiping one and striking the rear of another, a 2001 Honda. Fierro’s Jeep pushed the Honda across three lanes of traffic in the circle and onto the center grassy area of the traffic circle. The other vehicle did not suffer major damage and the drive was not hurt.

Fierro continued driving, as a New Rochelle police officer followed, before pulling over on his own at Lockwood Avenue and Warren Street. Fierro appeared disoriented and was taken into custody for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, according to police.

Fierro was taken into police custody and taken to police headquarters. Fierro, who has a history of medical issues, told police the incident may have been the result of his having a seizure. His condition was confirmed by police after a call was placed to his wife. Fierro was then transported to Sound Shore Medical Center. His property was returned to him and he was released.

The driver of the Honda, a teacher at Columbus Elementary School in New Rochelle, told police at the scene of the collision that she was experiencing neck pain. She was transported to Sound Shore Medical Center where she was treated and released.

Fierro has a history of medical problems due to a long-standing medical condition known as Arteriovenous Malformations or AVM. He has an ocular prosthesis in one eye.

Several years ago, Fierro suffered a severe stroke. After stays at Greenwich Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, he was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage from arteriovenous malformations, snarled tangles of arteries and veins, which result from defects in the circulatory system which develop during embryonic development or soon after birth. Due to his AVM, Fierro suffered seizures when he was younger.

According to a 2009 article in the Burke Voice, a publication of the Burke Rehabilitation Center in White Plains, NY, Fierro required extensive rehab.

“When I was admitted to Burke for stroke rehab,” said Fierro, “I couldn’t do anything without a lot of assistance. I couldn’t write the alphabet or my name. I couldn’t feel the left side of my face and my entire left side was weak. I couldn’t walk. I needed four people to help me.”

Fierro was discharged after completing extensive physical and occupational therapy.

The article notes that Fierro returned to his job as a swimming coach, that he is writing a book and that he is able to walk without assistance and drive a car.

In addition to coaching the New Rochelle High School team, Fierro is a coach with the Badger Swim Club which operates out of the pool at New Rochelle High School. The Badger Swim Club has been a family-owned business for decades and Fierro comes from a family of swim coaches.

According to the Badger web site, Fierro has been involved with the Badger program for over 40 years:

Head Age Group Coach Kip Fierro has been eating, sleeping and breathing Badger for forty years, first as an alumnus of John Collins and then as Badger Age Group Head Coach for over twenty-five years. He has been the Head Coach of the New Rochelle High School team for twelve years, was Head Coach at the New York Athletic Club for eighteen years and Head Coach at Coveleigh Club for three years. Kip has been coaching Top 16 nationally ranked swimmers for over twenty-five years. He has been the Age Group coach to numerous swimmers who have gone on to be World champions, Olympic champions, national champions and NCAA champions. He was two time Conference Coach of the Year and 2008 High School Coach of the Year. Kip himself was an All American Swimmer, National Qualifier, two time State High School Champion and Record Holder, and attended the University of Miami on a swimming scholarship. Having trained with world class swimmers and competed in countless regional and national competitions, Kip knows what it takes to rise to the challenge of competition and brings a wealth of knowledge of technique and competition to the Age Group program. “My goal is to motivate the kids, to inspire them to want to continue to be swimmers.”

5 thoughts on “New Rochelle High School Swim Coach Kip Fierro, Driving on a Suspended License, Causes Three Car Collision Injuring Local Elementary School Teacher”

  1. Why does the writer of the article sound so nasty?
    Why does the writer of this article, Robert Cox, have a real negative bias against Mr. Fierro, whom he doesn’t even know? The story makes like an injustice was uncovered because tax payers don’t know this man is sneakily getting paid a lot of tax payers coin just to hang out in a pool, and now he’s causing trouble crashing his car into people and running from the scene… That’s ALL total BS!!! This man works hard and is GREAT with students. He inspires us and gives his time freely to all who need him. He has health issues — he didn’t crash his car on purpose, and try to get away from the scene. He had a seizure, which he hasn’t had in a while, and I’m glad no one got hurt. So what if he has some tickets he hasn’t paid? I do too, and so do some of my friends. It doesn’t mean we’re all dishonorable people or something. I hate when nasty people try to make mountains out of mole hills. Don’t be so quick to judge people when you don’t know or even care to consider all the facts.

    1. Just NASTY
      Robert Cox is so Nasty, because he is a little man.(Probably got beat up a lot in school) He loves to bash the New Rochelle Board of Ed and anybody who works for it. Mean while his wife is an employee there and provides him and their family with health insurance, while Mr. Cox stays at Home to be a “reporter”. What a joke, what a hack. Robert why don’t you take off your apron and go to work and support your family like a real man. Instaed of being a stay at home wife.

      1. Your comments are no different!
        “He’s is mad as hell, and I’m/he’s not going to take this anymore”. Oh how life imitates art sometimes. He didn’t announce that he would retire though. He had to move on because he was asked to sign an agreement and wouldn’t. Instead he has grown this site. Why, because many injustices are and were uncovered. Time and again He/We see the waste and corruption that goes on in the Board of Ed and The City of New Rochelle. When these things happen people act like they are surprised. How can this be? Everything here in New Rochelle is just perfect. Well, we aren’t living in The New Rochelle of Rob and Laura Petrie anymore. If someone went to the bathroom on your leg would you just stand there? NO! He is angry and he’s not going to take it anymore. Neither should any of us. It’s our money and our lives that are being played with, not theirs.

        Do I agree with everything Bob says and the tone he uses? Not always. But we now have a forum to speak up and have conversations. Yes some/many people say the wrong things and hide behind their cover names. But that is the price we pay for the world of fast track media we live in. People are starting to see the real goings on in New Rochelle. Now we are looking for a change of the way this city does business.

        By the way, there is nothing wrong with being a stay at home dad. Many people today have coverage through their spouses company.It is 2012 not 1950. At least it isn’t a free ride for life. From the work and time he spends on this site, I doubt he is home all that much.

  2. We must all count our blessings
    I have sympathy for the situation that Edward “Kip” Fierro, and the others in the car accidents have found themselves in.

    The issue of leaving the scene of an accident, itself, probably has a valid defense relating to his medical condition. The insurance will probably cover the damages.

    Kip Fierro had a valid connecticut license, although it was suspended in NY. If Mr. Fierro always obeyed that suspension, except for this one time, it might be perceived by the courts as a medically-related situation, totally mitigating criminal culpability (but not civil responsibility).

    If If Mr. Fierro had a pattern or previous history of violating that suspension, then he will probably be held criminally responsible for driving while his license is suspended. If he hasn’t previously been convicted of an offense punishable by time in jail/prison, he probably will be offered a plea bargain for an ACOD, Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismisal, which would seal history of the charges on his police record, after six months.

    No matter what, Mr. Fierro should immediately contact Connecticut to retire his drivers license, should cease driving in NY, and probably should never carry any car keys on his person in the future.

    I hope that everyone involved comes out of this without any serious damage to their body, mind or reputation. Things could have been much worse, and life will go on. We must all count our blessings, even when confronted with the unexpected problems associated with living.

    1. Welcome Back
      no comment on the article except to say best to kip in terms of health and well being.

      brian, where have you been? you provide balance, lots of insight and you are needed for this and more.

      welcome back.

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