SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. – A Yaphank woman has admitted responsibility for a 2024 crash that killed a 75-year-old passenger and injured another driver in Middle Island.
Melissa Koprowski, 32, pleaded guilty on October 1, 2025, to manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, and multiple driving offenses stemming from the November 22, 2024 collision. She faces a sentence of 4 to 12 years in prison when she returns to court on November 17.
According to court records, Koprowski was driving a 2014 Dodge Durango eastbound on Middle Country Road around 8:39 p.m. when she attempted to make a left turn at Wading River Hollow Road without the right of way.
Her vehicle collided head-on with a westbound 2022 Nissan Rogue that had a green light at the intersection. Inside the Nissan were the driver, her two-year-old child, and her 75-year-old mother, Esther Guy.
The crash forced the Nissan off the road and into a wooded area. Emergency responders rushed all three occupants to Long Island Community Hospital. The driver was treated for injuries, the child was unharmed, and Guy was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Koprowski was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police reported that she showed signs of intoxication, and subsequent testing confirmed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12% along with high levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. She was taken into custody following treatment.
Guilty Plea and Charges
Koprowski admitted in court to being intoxicated and impaired at the time of the crash. She pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz to the following charges:
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class C felony)
- Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class D felony)
- Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felony)
- Assault in the Third Degree (Class A misdemeanor)
- Two counts of Driving While Intoxicated (unclassified misdemeanors)
- Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs (Class A misdemeanor)
- Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combination of Alcohol and a Drug (unclassified misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (unclassified misdemeanor)
Koprowski is faces 4 to 12 years in prison. She is represented by attorney John Halverson.
Fatal Middle Island Crash
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Melissa Koprowski, 32, Yaphank |
| Date of Crash | November 22, 2024 – 8:39 p.m. |
| Location | Middle Country Road & Wading River Hollow Road, Middle Island |
| Vehicle Driven | 2014 Dodge Durango |
| Victims | Esther Guy, 75 (deceased); Driver (injured); 2-year-old child (unharmed) |
| Toxicology | BAC 0.12% + high THC levels |
| Charges | Manslaughter 2nd, Vehicular Manslaughter 2nd, Assault 2nd & 3rd, Two counts DWI, DWAI by drugs, DWAI combined alcohol/drug, Reckless Driving |
| Plea Date | October 1, 2025 |
| Potential Sentence | 4 to 12 years in prison |
| Next Court Date | November 17, 2025 |
| Defense Counsel | John Halverson, Esq. |
Q&A: Fatal Middle Island Crash
What is Manslaughter in the Second Degree?
Under New York law, Manslaughter in the Second Degree is a Class C felony. It involves recklessly causing the death of another person without intent to kill. It carries a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
What is Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree?
Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree is a Class D felony that applies when a person causes someone’s death while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.
Why was THC mentioned in the toxicology report?
THC is the psychoactive component in marijuana that impairs judgment, reaction time, and motor skills. Combined with alcohol, it significantly increases the risk of causing a crash.
What does “Driving While Ability Impaired” mean?
Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) is charged when alcohol, drugs, or a combination affect a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely, even if their blood alcohol concentration is below the legal 0.08% limit for DWI.
When will sentencing take place?
Koprowski is scheduled to return to Suffolk County Court on November 17, 2025, where a judge will determine her final prison term, expected to fall between 4 and 12 years.
