Police Officer Matthew Anthony Dziergowski

Matthew Anthony Dziergowski

Police Officer Matthew Dziergowski was killed after his patrol was struck by another vehicle at the scene of a vehicle crash.

He and three other officers had just finished laying out flares at the scene of an overturned tractor-trailer. The other officers were outside of their cars when another vehicle approached. Officer Dziergowski saw the vehicle, warned the other officers, and pulled in front of the vehicle to shield them. His patrol was struck on the driver's side and pushed into a guardrail.

He was flown to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other three officers on the scene were seriously injured.

The suspect was charged with criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to one to three years. He was paroled in 2002.

Officer Dziergowski had served with the New York City Police Department for 17 years and was assigned to the 123rd Precinct. He is survived by his expectant wife and eight-year-old son. His second son was born a few months later.

Officer Dziergowski was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.