A New York state police officer died after traumatic brain injuries more than three years ago when a distracted driver’s vehicle hit him, officials said on Saturday.
Officer Joseph Gallagher died on Friday, said Kevin P. Bruen, acting superintendent of the New York State Police, in a statement.
Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the flags on state buildings to be raised in person.
“His tragic demise is a reminder of the altruistic actions that so many brave first aid workers take each day,” said Cuomo in a statement.
Gallagher was helping a driver whose vehicle broke down on December 18, 2017, when he was hit on an overpass connected to the Long Island Expressway, Bruen said.
Driver Jesse Cohen was texting and using social media on his phone when his vehicle hit Gallagher, who had installed flags to alert traffic, prosecutors said.
Cohen’s lawyer, Louis Roman, said last year that his client “has taken full responsibility for his actions”.
The driver was sentenced to 30 days in prison, three years probation and 1,000 hours of community service for causing the accident.
Gallagher, a soldier since 2014, worked at the state police office in Brentwood, New York, Bruen said.
Cuomo’s office said the officer left his wife, two children, parents, sister and brothers.
