(02/10/06) JERSEY CITY ? Jersey City Police Department investigators say the Department of Transportation (DOT) is directly responsible for the Christmas night bridge accident that killed two officers.

Shawn Carson and Robert Nguyen were killed when their vehicle drove off the Lincoln Highway Bridge, which was open to let a tugboat pass. A broken bridge gate and heavy fog were blamed as contributing factors to the accident. However, Jersey City Police Chief Robert Troy says the bridge operator had plenty of methods at his disposal to warn the two officers of the bridge?s raised position.

Troy also blasted the DOT?s report on the incident, claiming that it simply does not paint a true picture. The chief says his department is handing its findings over to the prosecutor?s office. The DOT stood by its report, but would not comment further due to a pending lawsuit filed by Nguyen?s family.

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