AG's office says it is investigating fatal motor vehicle incident involving Nassau cops

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation said Wednesday it has opened an investigation into the death a Uniondale pedestrian who was fatally struck by a Nassau County police car last week.

The investigation into the death of Miguel Romero, 47, of Uniondale, was launched under New York State Executive Law 70-b, which grants the attorney general the authority to investigate all incidents where a police officer caused someone’s death, according to a statement released by the office of Attorney General Letitia James.

The AG’s statement said the crash involved “members of the Nassau County Police Department,” but did not specify the number.

Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder released a statement saying: “As per the Executive Order, any death that occurs with police involvement  must be reported to the attorney General for oversight.”

Romero was hit by an unmarked Nassau police vehicle while he attempted to cross southbound on Front Street at the intersection of New York Avenue in Uniondale at about 9:26 p.m. Saturday, the police department said in a news release following the crash. Romero died at a hospital.

A police department spokesman declined to release additional details following the crash, citing the ongoing investigation. The police department did not release the names of any of the officers involved in the crash, but said multiple officers were treated at hospitals for minor injuries that were not detailed.

Romero’s family could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.