Cotto family struggles to cope after death

Final arrangements are in place for Eddie Cotto, 50, who was struck and killed Thursday by a public-safety officer accused of driving while intoxicated.

A visitation for Cotto will be Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Krauss Funeral Home in Franklin Square, said his fiancee, Diane Ware, 40, of Lindenhurst.

A funeral at the same location at 10:30 a.m. Friday will be followed by a burial, she said.

"He was everything," said Ware. "His family was number one."

Cotto was struck by a Hempstead Town public-safety patrol car driven by Robert Core, 42, of Hempstead Village, who police said was driving drunk. Core pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday.