Fatal car accident attributed to New York State trooper

A state trooper may be held responsible for a fatal crash that killed a mother of two, according to local upstate sources. New York State Police are still investigating the cause of the car accident that killed a 33-year-old woman and injured her two children on the morning of Oct. 23. The trooper has not been charged with a crime at this time.

Sources say that just before 7 a.m., the victim was driving northbound when the state trooper apparently failed to yield to oncoming traffic. The trooper, a 10-year veteran of the force, was traveling southwest when the collision occurred. Reportedly, he did not yield right-of-way and subsequently struck the other vehicle within the intersection.

The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident when emergency personnel arrived. Her two children, aged 6 and 3, suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The trooper also suffered minor injuries and was subsequently transported to a hospital as well.  Police are working to determine definitively what caused the accident, but it does not appear the trooper has been suspended or charged at this time.

If New York authorities determine that negligence on the part of the trooper caused the car accident, he may be suspended indefinitely, fired from his position and/or possibly even charged with a crime. Regardless, the surviving family of the deceased driver will also be entitled under state law to file a wrongful death lawsuit and two personal injury claims against the trooper. As he was on duty at the time, his department may also face claims for financial accountability in civil court.

Source: wwnytv.com, “New York State Trooper Involved In Fatal Crash”, Oct. 29, 2014