A Long Island man has been sentenced for a fatal DWI hit-and-run that took place in December 2014 when he collided with a vehicle on Southern State Parkway. He was found guilty on a variety of charges and was sentenced on Aug. 11 to no less than 14 years in prison.
The man who caused the crash reportedly spent time drinking alcohol and smoking pot at a Queens strip club. The accident took place at around 6:30 a.m. when the man traveled across three lanes of traffic and rear-ended the vehicle of a man going to work. The 59-year-old ironworker, who was from Hempstead, was killed. The other vehicle was traveling at 84 mph, and the impact sent the ironworker’s car off the road and into a tree. When the first vehicle left the scene, witnesses provided a description to police. The motorist reportedly tried to destroy evidence by hiring someone to set his car on fire. The car was found on fire in front of the home where the man’s children live.
The judge and prosecutors in this case had especially harsh words for the Long Island man. While he did not intend to kill, the judge said he chose to drive drunk. The DA said vehicular crime statutes need to be updated with tougher penalties and that fleeing the scene is a separate crime that comes with additional punishments.
Cases like this show how seriously drunk driving is treated. A person who is accused of injuring someone else or causing significant property damage while driving under the influence could face felony DUI charges. As a result, people who are in this type of a situation may find it advisable to have the help of an attorney when attempt to counter the allegations or minimize the potential consequences.
