The Times Union has obtained disturbing video footage that reveals the tragic events leading to the death of a 30-year-old father in Troy. The footage shows three Troy police vehicles speeding through a busy Hoosick Street intersection, culminating in a devastating collision with a small sedan.
The question arises: how fast was Officer Justin Byrnes driving in his SUV? According to law enforcement sources cited by Brendan J. Lyons, the speed reached nearly 80 mph. However, the family of Sabeeh Alalkawi, who tragically lost his life in the crash, estimates the officer’s speed to be close to 90 mph. It is important to note that the speed limit on Hoosick Street is 30 mph.
One aspect that remains unclear from the video is whether Officer Byrnes had activated his siren. Troy police assert that he did, while Mr. Alalkawi’s family’s attorney claims he did not. The ongoing investigation conducted by the state attorney general’s office will hopefully shed light on this question.
What is indisputably clear, however, is that Mr. Alalkawi had no chance in this tragic incident. The video clearly shows that his view was obstructed by a former pizza shop, preventing him from seeing the approaching police vehicle. Officer Byrnes failed to consider the possibility of a car entering the intersection from his right, leading to this fatal collision.
The video strongly suggests that Mr. Alalkawi had a green light, while Officer Byrnes proceeded through a red light at high speed. Remarkably, the video shows no signs of Officer Byrnes’ vehicle slowing down as it entered the intersection, resulting in the brutal impact with Mr. Alalkawi’s small Honda.
While the determination of recklessness is a matter for the attorney general’s office and the courts, it is evident that Officer Byrnes did not meet the expected standards of care and protection that Troy residents rely on from their police department.
It is worth acknowledging that Officer Byrnes was responding to a domestic disturbance call that night in February. Undeniably, there are instances where police officers must drive at high speeds in order to fulfill their duty of public protection. However, this does not excuse the reckless endangerment of lives along the way. It provides no justification for the tragedy that occurred to Mr. Alalkawi.
Whenever controversy surrounds Troy police officers, Mayor Patrick Madden consistently avoids addressing the issues head-on. This time is no different. The mayor has declined to answer questions pertaining to police protocols and procedures, despite almost seven months passing since Mr. Alalkawi’s death. These questions include inquiries about adequate training for pursuit and emergency response policies.
Mayor Madden also refuses to confirm whether Troy officers activate vehicle cameras when responding to calls. Allegedly, there is no body-worn or dashboard footage available from Officer Byrnes’ SUV in the minutes leading up to the crash. Furthermore, it has been alleged that some Troy officers choose not to activate emergency sirens in order to avoid triggering the vehicle camera.
In order to prevent further tragedies, it is imperative that Mayor Madden addresses the concerns arising from Mr. Alalkawi’s death. Unfortunately, Mayor Madden appears more interested in being the mayor of the police union rather than fulfilling his role as the elected representative of the Troy community. This stance obstructs transparency and hinders accountability.
