Natalie Sailpa, a San Francisco, California, resident for several years, typically sleeps with her window open. She lives close to Sunset Boulevard, and while it’s a bit congested during the day, it’s typically calm when the sun goes down. A sickening sound jolted her away around 2 a.m. on May 17.

“I was sleeping, and I usually leave my window open at night. And at 1:57, I heard a loud crash. I said, ‘Oh no, I think there was an accident,'” Sailpa told KGO.

Her suspicion proved right—28-year-old Ryan Kwong, a recent graduate of the SFPD police academy, had crashed into a minivan. The impact totaled it and sent all occupants to the hospital. One of the passengers is suffering from life-threatening conditions.

The young officer also crashed into a BMW sedan, which tow crews later hauled away. Emergency crews took the BMW’s occupants to the hospital. Although Kwong walked away uninjured, authorities determined he was speeding and under the influence before crashing into the minivan.

The officer’s choices have outraged city officials

Bill Scott, the department’s police chief, saw Kwong graduate with his class on May 15. He wrote a statement to the media explaining how upset he was about the rookie officer’s choices to drive after drinking.

“This incident was incredibly tragic, and my heart goes out to the injured victims. We will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served in this case,” he wrote. “No one is above the law, and our officers know they are expected to obey the law, as well as our strict code of conduct, even while off duty.”

Daniel Lurie, the city’s mayor, had announced plans to boost hiring efforts for the SFPD just a week before Kwong’s accident. He plans to hold the officer accountable.

“My thoughts are with those injured in this incredibly upsetting incident. Our police officers work hard to keep San Franciscans safe, and we expect them to follow the law on and off duty — no exceptions,” his statement read.

Joel Engardio, a city supervisor representing the Sunset District, echoed Scott and Lurie’s sentiment—that a police officer, even one still wet behind the ears, should know better.

“This is a tragic accident, and no one is above the law. Police officers have to follow the law like everyone else, and they need to be accountable when something like this happens,” he said.

Residents and neighbors feel disappointed

Viewers of ABC7’s YouTube video of the story’s coverage were more shocked that officials were keen to hold the young officer accountable.

“Dude will actually face consequences… Usually, they protect the cops who have been around for a while,” wrote a viewer.

Another felt disappointed in the rookie officer, who had just gone through months of grueling training, just to throw it away.

Just knowing how hard it is to go through the [academy] process of even making it to the academy and then going through the academy, that’s eight months long,” they wrote. “Dude, you just slapped your department, and not just that, but you just cost a family a that will have lifetime effects.”

Someone else noted how incredibly preventable the accident was.

“Why didn’t he just call an Uber or a Lyft?” they asked. “This whole thing could have been avoided.”