Troy to pay $5.77 million settlement for fatal officer involved crash

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The City of Troy has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement stemming from a fatal car accident last year. The crash involved a Troy police officer who, NEWS10 confirmed, has been terminated.

The crash happened at the intersection of Hoosick and 15th Street. Troy has reached a $5.77 million settlement agreement with the surviving family members of 30-year-old Sabeeh Alalkawi.

 The fatal car crash happened when officers were responding to a call on February 22 of last year. Video footage from the nearby McDonald’s shows two officers zoom by before the third officer, Justin Byrnes, careens into the car of Alalkawi. 

Alalkawi was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The pizza delivery driver had a wife and twin boys.

It was announced on Tuesday that Byrnes was terminated from the police department.

NEWS10 talked to Joseph O’Connor, the attorney representing the widow in the case. He said it took a lot of work because the law provides additional protections to police officers.

“You really have to show that they were recklessly disregarding the safety of others. And I certainly think after we concluded our investigation, we were able, and certainly obviously the City of Troy, by settling – I think they came to the point that their officer was certainly driving recklessly,” said O’Connor.

He said at the time of the crash, the Troy police officers were not required to have their body cameras on at all times.

“There was very limited body camera footage and the police officers actually turned off their body cameras and their audio at multiple points during the initial investigation,” said O’Connor.

It was also alleged the officer was speeding at the time of the accident. O’Connor said officers have to drive at speeds that get them there safely.

“If you are responding to an accident and you cause a more serious injury than the incident that you were responding to – in this case the death of a wonderful father, husband, brother, son – you are violating the policy,” said O’Connor.

Troy City Council President Sue Steele released a statement that read in part: “The death of Sabeeh Alalkawi was a tragic incident that brought tremendous pain to many in our community. While no amount of money can bring Mr. Alalkawi back, we hope this settlement will bring some comfort to his family.” 

Mayor Carmella Mantello also released a statement that read in part: “My condolences go out to the Alalkawi family and those impacted by the incident. My administration remains committed to creating a safer and cleaner Troy.”

The city council will review and discuss the settlement at a finance meeting on Thursday.