Man Involved in Fatal 2011 Crash Sentenced

This story was written by editor Joseph Pinciaro, posted by editor Sara Walsh. 

Exactly two years after a Brooklyn man stole 30 pairs of jeans from Tanger Outlet Mall and proceeded to get in a high-speed chase with police – resulting in a fatal crash that took the life of a Hauppauge School District teacher – a judge sentenced him to prison on Thursday.

Cordell Tucker was convicted by a jury in May of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, third-degree grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment and several traffic violations.

On June 27, 2011, Tucker – along with two others – stole nearly the clothing from True Religion at Tanger, and when stopped by Suffolk County Sheriffs on the Long Island Expressway, proceeded to speed away, resulting in the crash that killed 62-year-old Gail Sacher. Authorities said Tucker was driving over 100 miles per hour at some points of the chase, which ended in Bohemia.

State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho sentenced Tucker to the max of 7 1/3 to 22 years in state prison.

Sacher's husband, Alan, was driving the car that was hit by Tucker, and was critically injured in the crash.