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Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
An 18-year-old from Moriches was sentenced Wednesday to four to 12 years in prison for a drunk driving crash on Father’s Day last year that killed a 19-year-old from East Hampton. Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski imposed the sentence after the defendant pleaded guilty in February to 14 charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
The fatal crash occurred on June 15 at approximately 7:39 p.m. on Old Stone Highway in East Hampton, prosecutors said. The driver had driven a group of seven teenagers, ranging in age from 15 to 19, to a local beach in East Hampton where the group consumed alcohol, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. After drinking at the beach, the driver attempted to drive the group away with six passengers crammed into the back seat of his vehicle, including a 15-year-old.
While traveling 74 mph in a posted 30-mph zone—more than twice the speed limit—the driver approached a curve on Old Stone Highway and lost control of the vehicle, authorities said. The car crossed into the oncoming lane, narrowly missing another vehicle, before leaving the roadway and striking a tree. The impact caused the vehicle to roll onto its passenger side, according to prosecutors.
A 19-year-old rear-seat passenger died at the scene from her injuries. A second rear-seat passenger suffered a spinal fracture and severe lacerations to her hand that resulted in significant disfigurement, the district attorney’s office said. The other passengers were hospitalized with less serious injuries, though prosecutors did not specify the nature of those injuries.
Officers who responded to the crash scene observed signs of intoxication in the driver, who consented to a chemical test that registered a blood alcohol concentration of .08%—at the legal limit for intoxication in New York State. The combination of excessive speed and alcohol impairment led to the multiple charges filed against the teenage driver.
“A young woman lost her life because of the selfish actions of the defendant,” District Attorney Tierney said in a statement following the sentencing. “I hope that this prison sentence brings some small degree of solace to the victim’s family who are undoubtedly still grieving this senseless loss.”
Following the crash, the victim’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses, which raised close to $70,000 in donations from the community.
Location & Road Context
Old Stone Highway runs through East Hampton, connecting various residential areas and beach communities in the popular Hamptons region of Suffolk County. The roadway where the crash occurred has a posted speed limit of 30 mph, typical for local roads in the area that wind through residential neighborhoods and connect to beach access points.
The curve where the driver lost control is characteristic of many roads in the East Hampton area, where winding routes follow the natural topography of the South Fork. The 30 mph speed limit reflects the road’s design limitations and the need for drivers to navigate turns safely, particularly during summer months when traffic increases significantly due to seasonal residents and visitors.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
On February 11, the defendant appeared before Justice Pilewski and pleaded guilty to 14 charges stemming from the fatal crash. The charges included aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault, aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court records.
The endangering the welfare of a child charge specifically related to the presence of a 15-year-old passenger in the vehicle during the crash. The aggravated DWI charge reflected the enhanced penalty for driving under the influence with a child passenger under 16 years old, which carries more severe consequences under New York State law than standard DWI charges.