Driver Was Drunk, Speeding before Crashing into Jeep on Meadowbrook State Parkway
A Freeport man was arraigned on a ten-count indictment for a drunken crash that left two women injured on the Meadowbrook State Parkway last year.
On August 4, 2023, George Moore was driving with a female passenger in a 2014 Mercedes northbound on the Meadowbrook State Parkway while on his way to work in Queens, where he works as a detective in the New York City Police Department. Moore was allegedly drunk and driving aggressively when he crashed into a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the center lane of the parkway.
The force of the impact caused Moore’s car to crash into the center divider of the Meadowbrook and then head-on into a tree on the right shoulder before coming to rest. As a result of the collision, Moore’s vehicle overturned and became engulfed in flames.
Moore suffered a broken pelvis, a broken arm, and a broken leg. The passenger in Moore’s car suffered serious physical injuries, including a fracture to her left wrist, a fracture to her left foot, and a spinal fracture. The driver of the Grand Cherokee suffered injuries to her lower back, left shoulder, and right knee. All three individuals were transported to Nassau University Medical Center to receive treatment.
Moore surrendered to members of the New York State Troopers on the morning of February 28. Later that day, Moore, 40, of Freeport, was arraigned before Judge Howard Sturim on charges of aggravated vehicular assault (a Class C felony), second-degree assault (a Class D violent felony), first-degree vehicular assault (a Class D felony), second-degree vehicular assault (a Class E felony), third-degree assault and second-degree reckless endangerment (both Class A misdemeanor), and aggravated DWI, driving while intoxicated per se, DWI and reckless driving (all unclassified misdemeanors).
When asked why it took so long to arraign Moore, Brendan Borsh, a spokesperson for the Nassau DA’s office, told Long Island Life & Politics, “He was not arrested at the scene. The Nassau County Police Department commenced a lengthy investigation.” After the investigation determined that he was allegedly consuming alcohol at various bars in Rockville Centre, “he was arraigned, following a grand jury indictment,” Borsh said.
Moore pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services. If convicted of the top count, the defendant faces a potential maximum of five to fifteen years in prison. He is due back in court on March 14, 2024.
“The defendant, an NYPD detective, allegedly got behind the wheel of his Mercedes while heavily intoxicated and put the lives of countless other people in danger that early August morning,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “After speeding and weaving through traffic, George Moore allegedly clipped the back of an SUV and his car careened into the highway median, rolled over and eventually caught fire. Unfortunately, two women were injured due to Moore’s alleged actions. Drunk driving is completely preventable, and my office will aggressively prosecute cases and hold reckless drivers accountable.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the NYPD regarding Moore’s status. According to a DCPI spokesperson, Moore, who was appointed in July 2014, is currently suspended without pay. “The internal investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
— Additional reporting by Hank Russell