MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A retired New York City police officer has been sentenced to up to four years in prison after admitting he fled the scene of a fatal accident. A 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome was killed.
Michael Elardo of Syosset (sy’-AH’-seht) pleaded guilty in August to leaving the scene of a fatal incident.
Prosecutors say Bryanna Soplin was struck just after midnight on June 15 as she crossed Hempstead (HEHM’-stehd) Turnpike in Levittown.
Elardo surrendered about 42 hours later. He initially told authorities he thought he had hit a traffic cone.
Bryann’s parents said she slipped out of the house in the middle of the night, apparently hoping to visit her grandparents
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, who is running for Congress, says she wants stiffer penalties in such cases.
