Investigation Continues into Death of Lindy Alum & NYPD Cop Killed on LIE

Suffolk Police are continuing their investigation into the death of North Babylon resident Joseph Pritchard, a New York City policeman and a graduate of Lindenhurst High School killed on Monday in a fiery crash on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills.

Initial police reports indicated Pritchard, 30, was behind the wheel of a 2008 Dodge pickup truck that was stopped in the Westbound right lane of the expressway. Police are unsure why the truck was stopped.

Pritchard’s vehicle was hit by a box truck driven by Joseph Garcia, 34, of the Bronx who was treated for non-life threatening injuries. According to Newsday, the box truck is owned by Barakat Trucking in New Jersey.

Pritchard, a member of the NYPD since 2005, worked in midtown Manhattan and attended the LHS where he played football, according to published reports.

In his time as a defensive end and running back for the Lindy Bulldogs he earned all-Suffolk County honors and all-Division I honors in 2000, Newsday reported.

"He was one of my favorite players of all time," Richard Biancaniello, who was his coach at the LHS, told Newsday. "He was one of the toughest kids I ever coached."

A buddy from childhood, Erik Conroy, told Newsday Pritchard's leadership was obvious in high school. He was always upbeat and had been voted the "Best Smile" in the yearbook by his class, Conroy said.

"People wanted to be around him because of the way he was," Conroy told Newsday, his voice breaking as he talked about the "brother" he met decades ago playing youth football.

Pritchard loved being an NYPD officer, and the job's bonus was playing on the NYPD's football team, the Coach Biancaniello also told Newsday.

The New York Post reported in May 2010 Pritchard made a key defensive play in the police department’s 17-7 win over the FDNY in the annual Fun City Bowl football game played at Hofstra University.

“The game was sealed when Joseph Pritchard, an NYPD defensive end, stripped the ball and recovered it in the end zone,” the Post report said.

Pritchard's friend, Lito Gil, remembered the fallen NYPD officer as, "a complete gentleman [with a] smile that could light up any room. He was a great friend, teammate and family member to everyone that knew him."

Police are asking anyone with information about Monday's incident to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

Related Coverage:

• Photos: Pritchard Memorial Game Played at the LMS on Sat.
• Joe Pritchard Memorial Football Game Set for Sat. at Lindenhurst MS
• Watch: Officer Pritchard Laid to Rest in Lindenhurst
• A 'Sea of Blue' Says Good-Bye to Fallen NYPD Officer
• Funeral Arrangements Set for Fallen NY Cop 
• Wellwood Ave. Closure Enforced for Fallen NY Officer's Funeral
• Investigation Continues into Death of Lindy Alum & NYPD Cop Killed on LIE 
• NYPD Officer & LHS Alum Killed in Fiery Crash on the LIE

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