NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A Long Island woman was indicted on manslaughter and other charges after allegedly driving while intoxicated and sparking a Suffolk County crash that killed a passenger in another car, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
Melissa Koprowski, 31, of Yaphank, was indicted following a November last year crash that killed a 75-year-old Coram woman and injured the driver, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
“Driving while impaired is lethal activity and will be treated as such,” Tierney said. “My office will seek justice for the family of Esther Guy and will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who chooses to threaten the safety of our roadways.”
According to the investigation, on Nov. 22, 2024, at around 8:39 p.m., Koprowski was allegedly driving a 2014 Dodge Durango eastbound on Middle Country Road in Middle Island.
As Koprowski entered the intersection at Wading River Hollow Road, she allegedly tried to make a left-hand turn in front of oncoming traffic, without having the right of way. She allegedly crashed into a blue 2022 Nissan Rogue traveling westbound, prosecutors said.
The driver’s two-year-old child and 75-year-old mother, Esther Guy, were in the backseat of the Nissan Rogue when Koprowski’s SUV crashed head-on into it, pushing the Rogue off the road and into a wooded area.
Police responded to the scene and all three of the victims inside the Nissan Rogue were taken to Long Island Community Hospital where the driver of the Nissan Rogue was treated for her injuries.
Guy was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival to the hospital. The two-year-old child was uninjured, prosecutors said. Koprowski was also transported to Long Island Community Hospital for non-life-threatening
injuries. While at the hospital, officers alleged that she displayed behaviors of intoxication and placed her under arrest.
Koprowski was arraigned on charges related to manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired by drugs, and reckless driving.
She was held on $200,000 cash, $400,000 bond, or $1.5 million partially secured bond, and her license was suspended. Koprowski is due back in court on Feb. 5.