I was a police officer for 33 years. Let's call it like it is. Red lights and sirens aren't right of way in a controlled intersection particularly when you consider the side street traffic is obstructed by buildings. The requirement in most states is to stop and proceed when safe to do so. My training officer told me to remember you can't help anyone if you don't get to the call safely. This is an utter disregard for public safety.

78+ mph through a residential town with busy streets and a red light with no audible warning and blocked vision. Horrible! My condolences to the family.

That cop definitely needs to be held accountable. Manslaughter charges at the least. The amount of stupidity is overwhelming.

That nurse was really on the ball. Her evaluation and reaction time to the police SUV suddenly coming back across the road at her were nothing short of amazing.

80 in a 30 mph zone is unacceptable especially sense two other police cars were already there. The police also need to be held accountable for their actions. This cop really had no need to be going that fast.

I am very sorry for the victim here. He has two infant boys and was working to earn extra for his family. I hope his family can get over this tragedy and his kids have a good future.

I read a report that the deceased had been checked for drugs and alcohol during the autopsy but I wonder if the officer who clearly caused this accident was checked for the same? I doubt it!

I lost my 2 bf's almost 10years here in Vancouver when a cop went thru a red light at over 100km/hr striking them on the drivers side. They had just left my house 4 blocks away. No sirens, just lights at an intersection that was obscured by trees. The cop had no injuries and received a $200 fine. We were friends since kindergarten. Not a day goes by that I don't think about them.

Regardless of what the DA decides to do, this was a criminal act. Going to a call or not, 78 in a 30 through red lights is inexcusable, badge or no badge. He was way behind his buddies and wanted to catch up.

That’s terrible. The cop shouldn’t have been driving that fast though a red light. He should be held accountable.

I used to live around the corner from here and went through that same light going the same direction the victim did, just to think this could be any of us. My condolences to his wife and infant sons. 💔💔💔

⭐️Brilliant reporting. It’s heartbreaking that this hard working man was taken & left behind a wife & 2 infants. I hope they will find as much peace in life as possible.💗

I am a paramedic and my colleagues always tell me: youre going to get there fast because you can run the red lights, not because you can floor the car down the streets. Relax. Be careful. Get there safe before not getting there at all.

When I was put behind the wheel of a fire truck, my company officers gave me some really good advice. We can’t be of any help to the people who called us if we cause a crash; with radios and cellphones a quiet interiors; no one sees or hears us until we are on almost top of them so don’t get frustrated and drive accordingly; we don’t stop on a dime; your second family is riding with you and their family wants them to come home, too. Basically, he was telling me to not be selfish and to think while I am driving. Two things this officer failed to do. He only thought and how fast he could get to a call, ignored everyone else, chose not to warn anyone else, and wasn’t thinking about the possibilities of what could happen at a blind intersection. He should be charged for negligent vehicular homicide. Being negligent is not a part of an officer’s job. He also violated the clearly written state statute governing how emergency vehicles (which include police vehicles) shall be operated when being driven to an emergency scene. Just because he was on duty and had been dispatched to an emergency call does not mean he was “doing his job.” Breaking the laws and policies he agreed to abide by when he became an officer is not “doing his job.”

There has to be a separate governing body when an accident or crime involves the actions of law enforcement. The fact that the mayor, city council, and police leaders could not answer a simple question regarding current emergency response policies should be a violation of "right to know information" If the action involved 2 citizens they would have immediately recited what violations occurred.

As a father of infant children my condolences to the victim and his family ... unacceptable 😢

The Cop was 100% at fault all departments say that an officer in a pursuit or responding to an emergency will come to a complete stop or at least slow down enough when they have a red light to make sure it is safe to proceed and when in pursuit of another car regardless if the other car runs the red at full speed the cop can not public safety is the top concern.

Saw a car chase with a trainee behind the wheel. Training officer coached him thru every intersection, talking him thru why they slowed here and came to a full stop there and just cruised on thru some place else. He did an excellent job. So did the rookie doing the driving. This was a failure of due caution. He wasn"t going to be the first or second officer on the scene. His rash urgency was overkill. Literally.

How are you going to go 80mph through a red at a busy BLIND intersection?

Not a shooting or armed robbery, a domestic call and those idiots just HAD to race at high speeds.

Cop should be held accountable!!! He was speeding and ran the red light!!!

Remember this .. If it was me or you who did this we'd be in Jail !!!

The same thing happened in my hometown, St. George UT. The officer was flying down the road at 80mph when 2 elderly women misjudged his speed and turned in front of him. They both died from their injuries.

This was 100% negligent and the cop should be charged!

Well, he may not have been first to arrive at the emergency he responded to but he definitely is first to arrive at the emergency he caused.

The general orders of ALL police agencies clearly stipulate that even if going "hot," that is "lights and sirens," an officer must exercise due care and prudence. This means that when approaching an intersection, YOU MUST SLOW DOWN TO CHECK for traffic. Even if you have your sirens on, many will not hear you. Obstacles, structures and buildings all distort/block sound, people are on their phones, listening to music and so forth. An officer cannot just "blow" through an intersection just because they have their emergency equipment activated. These officers either lack the maturity or are just too excited that all their training goes on vacation. No police academy in the US trains officers to drive through intersections EVER just because they have their emergency equipment turned on. The officer made a fatal error of judgment. Period.

I look both ways at green lights, even if I have the right-of-way because you never know who isn't paying attention, or if there are first responders coming. This unfortunately happens a lot.

Man. I wept as I seen a photo of a proud father and his new born twins in the back. I so sorry this happened to you and your family. You and your family are the subject of my prayers for many days, months,and years to come.

Our cops are getting way out of control , overkill reaction to a domestic incident.

Cops will NEVER change their behavior(s) until they are held completely accountable for them.

So frikkin sad. Young man was just trying to support his little family. As a Dad myself this tears my heart out. My condolences to his friends and family. May he rest in peace 😢😢😢

Cop was wrecklesa and negligent

Ambulances/fire tricks slow at intersections that they can’t fully see around, they do no one any good if they are dead or their patient. Police the same, they do not do anyone any good if they are delayed due to accident, killed or kill innocent people. Trying to be the hero while being incredibly reckless is no hero. It’s just a matter of time before incidents like this happen. Siren on wouldn’t matter, what if a person was dead, it’s their responsibility to drive responsibly even when in a hurry!

My Ex-father-in-law was a police officer. While in a high speed chase the suspect ran a red light at nearly 100 mph and he followed with lights and sirens approx 200 yards behind. A minivan with a mother and her 2 small children had the green light at the intersection just after the suspect drove past. She went straight across and the ex-father-in-law struck her going about 85 mph in the drivers door. It killed all 3 in the minivan. He sustained serious injuries as well and ultimately had to retire. He never got over that and I've heard him say many times he wished he had just let the suspect go, he already had his tags...

A lot of them just put lights on no sirens rushing through intersections smh real stupid

I don't think that a domestic disturbance call would necessitate the officers traveling at that rate of speed and putting themselves and public at risk.

One of the first things I was taught about driving in EMS was the rules of the road still apply even when running hot.

Part of the first responders duty is to not become the emergency. Getting to an emergency is important but more importantly is actually making it there!!!🙄

I pray for justice for the family and accountability for the officer.

Every police car needs to have the ability to record when the lights and siren are in use or not in use. We shouldnt have to depend on a witness or the cop to tell us if they're being used.

My heart goes out to this man and his family who was senselessly taken away from them. This officer walked away from the fatal crash and will probably walk away from any wrong doing.

Of corse the officer lives. The drunk people and the bad cops always live. Cruel world we live in. Now he gets free top of the line attorneys that get him off of all charges paid for by us and he just either gets early retirement or moves a few counties over and starts freah. Wonderful.

Such a tragedy! A wife and two small children lose their husband/father because a police officer is SUSPECTED of not using his siren. I understand law enforcement wants to get to the call ASAP but there are people also traveling on the roads that need to be considered as well!!

That officer was it not in Hot pursuit he murdered somebody and needs to take accountability 78 mi an hour in a 30 mph zone he should be charged with murder and reckless and failure to slow down the devintersection when he had a red light

If that's congruent with the policy, then the policy needs to change! 78MPH on a city street through a red light?! Possibly with no siren?

RIP Sabeeh! Your sons wont know how much of a humbled father or being you was!

as long as there is qualified immunity. things like this will never end.

My prayers and condolences to the victim's family. No matter the outcome, I'm sure this is the last thing anyone wanted to happen.

In the video I see the police officer strike and the other vehicle but I must say I do not see any lights flashing after the accident as there should be. Was the siren on and he also ran the red light...

Unacceptable. Insane. Stupid! As a truck driver I think it is REDICULOUS for a cop to drive like that! Sick.

80 in dense urban area wow prayers for the families and his two sons

We, the people, will pay for his negligence. These law breakers will never truly be held accountable.

I was a student at RPI in the 80'S and used that intersection daily. I even witnessed a nearly identical crash scenario at that light. People still flying down Hoosick, smh.

I have gotten in the habit of carefully looking both ways before proceeding into an intersection; and particularly when I am the first to enter it when a light turns green.

I don’t know if the laws are the same as here in Florida but here if you’re a cop, fire rescue or ems going lights and sirens regardless of the call you treat every red light as a stop 🛑 and if you cause an accident you’re at fault . Lights and siren is basically you’re asking for permission to pass it doesn’t mean you could speed way over the limit or take red lights like if it was green or drive reckless.

When city council, and the mayor refuse comment, they should be forcefully removed from office.

My former nephew works for that dept, I used to live in Lansingburgh, scary to think these things happen & most certainly should have been prevented. I’m sorry but cop was in the wrong.

At a certain speed you are literally outrunning your siren. This was careless and reckless. He showed zero regard for the public.

This is so tragic and i hope the family of the man who passed away gets justice. That cop gets to go home to his family and the other guy is gone. There has to be charges or a wrongful death lawsuit against that cop

Senseless tragedy 😢 Poor guy just working to provide for his family.

Turning a non-life-threatening call into a life-threatening call.

78mph on a busy city street!!!! Unacceptable

So heartbreaking. Literally yesterday a state trooper was flying down a very busy road doing about 75 mph not a highway and even went on the opposite side where oncoming traffic was because there was traffic the scary part is he didn’t even slow down I was terrified 😢

Very sad and tragic story. Why did the mayor and police dept refuse to answer questions? Ok lets hope when a similar accident happens the other way around the other parties will also refuse to answer any questions.. What goes around comes around

can i just say, the nurses reactions were worthy of some type of recognition? does the RH shoulder check, sees cop, pulls over sensibly... sees accident, calmly yet briskly gets the hell out of the way, then proceeds to pull over safely, off the road, out of the way?

As a first responder in Commonwealth of Virginia from 67-83 we were required to take and pass an emergency driver course given by the State Police. Back then an emergency vehicle, police and or fire and rescue could exceed the posted speed limit by on 12 mph when responding to a call. But did not apply in a pursuit situation. Is there still a restriction on abusing the speed?

78mph in a 30mph zone is how you kill innocent people.

RIP Sabeeh Alalkawi. My prayers go out to his wife and twin sons. Such a young family robbed of a parent. My heart goes out to those boys who didn’t get a chance to grow up with their father. 😢. There more than one victim out of this tragedy.

No siren is pure recklessness on the cop

The police don’t collect evidence that doesn’t help their case. They literally instructed the county pathologist NOT to collect GSR evidence during an autopsy, in my brother’s case.

Very well-done video, and it makes it really clear just how negligent that cop was for driving those speeds and blowing through a red light.

I got pulled over for speeding a couple of years ago. I was driving UNDER the speed limit and yet I was cited. I had a dash cam at the time of the incident. Well, while driving doing my daily routine, my dash cam would catch police and highway patrol officers speeding excessively when not responding to emergency calls. Needless to say, my citation was dismissed on the spot when I took the dash cam video to the law enforcement agency's IAD. Always always have a dash cam in your vehicle. Hope one day this family finds peace...

Cops complain about the general public speeding, but they're equally responsible for driving without regard to public safety themselves. I realize they're responding to calls, but to run through intersections, ESPECIALLY without sirens on is just asking for a situation like this. Just because it's night time with very little traffic, doesn't mean people aren't out and around. My condolences, and prayers for the family of Mr Alalkawi. 🙏

gentle reminder that being a delivery driver is considerably more dangerous than serving as a police officer despite the poor pay and lack of benefits

This is on them. We understand that an emergency necessitates quick response BUT you have to do so safely. They are supposed to drive with due regard. This is where you are supposed to treat every red light intersection as a stop sign they are supposed to come to a stop or atlest a slow roll to ensure the intersection is clear before speeding through. These accidents are easy to happen because sound and people react slowly. A siren means nothing if it's approaching you at nearly 100mph the Doppler affect will make sure you don't hear it until it's abit late and most modern cars are built for comfort so they are well insulated from outside noise, reducing your chances of hearing it even further.

This is exactly why law-enforcement should also follow traffic laws

massive negligence from all of these officers. literal complete disregard for others. so much selfishness, and utterly no realization of the fact that 1000s of other people are also driving on the roads they are. i have NEVER once seen a officer run a red light where I have, ESPECIALLY AT 78 MILES PER HOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!

love knowing it’ll be covered by taxpayers and not the department/pensions.

No response from anyone means guilty .....

What a horrible incident. I feel for his family. The officer made a mistake. Even if he had his lights and siren on, he still needs to use due caution. Since it’s a blind intersection, he would have to slow significantly to safely go through that intersection. In my years on the job I worried about things like this. I was always very careful, but not all others were. If I’m a minute later for 99.99% of the calls, it doesn’t justify the mistakes he made here. The risks to the public are simply too high.

I'll never forget, about 12 years ago, I was on my way back home after taking my kids to school a police suv just barely missed slamming into me at what had to at least 70 miles an hour. The officer had on no siren or lights but chasing someone that had just passed me in a broken down pick-up truck. Because there were no lights or siren, I had no clue they were coming behind! The officer passed my vehicle so fast my car shook so hard it almost made me run off the road. And what's worse, the right 2 lanes were completely clear, but they both traveled at a high speed behind me. I only imagine what could have happened had they crashed into me😓. Seeing this horrific video brings that all back to my mind. 💔

In our town, the police, fire and rescue have something that turns all lights red at an intersection. This town can’t afford that?

In my home country there is a statement in Drivers Manual that "drivers of emergency vehicles must slow down before intersections and proceed only after making sure other motorists give them a right of way". I didn't see it in US Driver's Manual but I guess they have some kind of orientation or training before getting in an emergency vehicle.

Ban assault cars

Cop should be arrested and charged with IM give 2 years prison sentence with 5 years probation.

They should of rendered immediate assistance to the innocent driver that was struck by the Officer's 78 Mph. Crash not wait until they checked on the officer first when he's the one who caused the crash, That's ridiculous!! 😢

this is exactly one of my biggest fears blind intersections you never know if someones either id be police or civilian vehicles driving in excess at high speeds or simply not paying attention to traffic lights.. please be safe everyone. On this planet you only get 1 life. use it wisely pls

Dont create an emergency when responding to an emergency. You can drive faster than your lights and sirens can warn drivers and their reactions will be delayed if you stsrtle them.

Ive seen lots of officers in our town when they have their lights on they still slow down at intersections to make sure it’s clear, everyone stops and allows police vehicles to proceed. That’s the way it should be done, Officers who are concerned for public safety and citizens that comply to get out of the officers way. Not driving like a bat out of hell driving in a very reckless manner with complete disregard for public safety. 😮

UPDATE 25 SEPTEMBER 2023: A New York State Police crash reconstruction report shows city of Troy officer, Justin Byrnes, was traveling at a speed of 88 miles per hour (in a 30mph zone) moments before he drove through a red light at a blind intersection on Hoosick Street. The report also states that the “primary contributing factor for this collision was (the officer’s) failure to exercise due caution, while in emergency operation, when entering an intersection against a red light.” The State Police report indicates Byrnes pressed his brake pedal about four seconds before the collision with Alalkawi’s vehicle - while traveling 88 mph. But two seconds before the crash, he began to accelerate and then suddenly pressed his brake pedal, “approximately at the time of the collision,” reducing his SUV’s speed to 65 mph as he broadsided the Honda sedan. The airbags in Alalkawi’s vehicle deployed but did not save his life. He suffered an internal decapitation from the force of the impact. Officer Byrnes was not wearing a seatbelt but suffered only minor injuries. The investigation could result in criminal charges being filed against the officer, Justin Byrnes, if his actions are determined to be reckless or negligent. The TIMES UNION reported previously reported that Byrnes had violated the department’s emergency response policies and had not activated the siren in his marked 2016 Ford Explorer. Law enforcement sources said turning on his siren would have activated his SUV’s dashboard camera. In Troy, a departmental policy requires city police officers to have their lights and sirens on during emergency responses. Byrnes was placed on administrative leave at the time, and there are not any updates to that status. The New York State Attorney General's Office started its own investigation in March, but has not posted any updates.

Over a domestic disturbance, probably bf and gf drunk fighting

It’s the officer’s responsibility to use due diligence and consideration for the safety of others when operating any emergency vehicle.

Rest in peace Sabeeh. My deepest condolences to your wife and twin boys. May God bless them all and grant them peace.

Fuck disciplinary actions. He’s clearly a criminal. Didn’t turn on his sirens and excepts to get through a blind intersection at a high rate of speed

Crazy how they give you a ticket for going 5 miles over the limit but then they do this LOL

The tree of liberty is watered with the blood of qualified immunity.

So sad..Condolences to the victims family and friends. Hope everyone recovers...

No call is worth travelling at 78 mph through a red light. It’s a criminal act.

This is so sad. As upset as everyone should be about this tragic accident on both sides, I pray the family and 2 sons know that this police officer had absolutely no intention of causing their father's death. It was a terrible accident. I wonder if there's a ground me page for this man?

I would like to add that, I wasn't at the scene so cannot say that there were no sirens, but looking at this very distressing event. No one mentioned that there were no emergency lights on the police vehicle working at the second of the crash either. My condolences go out to Sabeeh and his family all he was doing was providing for his twins. So sad.