The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) of New York Attorney General Letitia James has concluded that no criminal charges will be filed against the Nassau County police officer involved in the fatal collision with a civilian two years ago in Seaford.
The incident occurred when the officer, responding to a medical emergency at an elementary school on Dec. 9, 2022, was driving on Hicksville Road with police lights activated.
Morris Sprachman, waiting to make a left-hand turn into a shopping center at the intersection of Hicksville Road and North Suffolk Road, collided with the officer’s vehicle as he proceeded through the intersection with a green light. Despite being transported to a local hospital, Sprachman died five days later, on Dec. 13.
The OSI report, released Tuesday, stated that after an investigation, there was insufficient evidence to prove the officer committed a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation revealed that the officer, who was driving above the posted 40 miles-per-hour speed limit, was in the correct lane and not impaired or distracted. Under New York State law, officers are permitted to exceed speed limits in emergencies, and thus the officer had the right of way and could not have anticipated Sprachman’s turn.
