NYPD officer charged in fatal crash that killed construction worker

March 18, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Attorney General Letitia James announced on Friday the indictment and arraignment of an NYPD Officer on Friday.
Photo: Brittainy Newman/AP

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Attorney General Letitia James announced on Friday the indictment and arraignment of NYPD Officer Tyler Paul, 24, of Queens, on charges including Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Criminally Negligent Homicide.

The charges stem from a tragic incident on April 26, 2023, where Officer Paul, while off-duty and speeding in his personal vehicle on Grand Central Parkway, struck and killed Kawan Edwards, a highway construction worker.

Officer Paul faced arraignment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Michael Hartofilis in Queens, where bail was set at a $200,000 bond with a cash alternative of $100,000. He is scheduled to return to court on May 1, 2024. The most severe charge carries a potential sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison.

The indictment details how Officer Paul, in a moment of reckless driving, changed lanes without signaling while driving at a high speed, leading to a collision with another vehicle. This collision subsequently caused him to lose control and fatally strike Edwards, who was working on the shoulder of the road for the Department of Transportation. Edwards was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation, as per New York Executive Law Section 70-b, conducted a thorough investigation into the incident. This law mandates the investigation of any incident reported where a police officer, whether on or off duty, may have caused the death of any person through an act or omission. Following their assessment, criminal charges were brought forward against Officer Paul.