An East Setauket man has been indicted for his alleged role in a three-vehicle crash on the Long Island Expressway.
Matthew Sheehy, 47, of East Setauket, has been indicted for aggravated vehicular assault, assault in the second degree, and other related charges after allegedly causing a three-vehicle crash that resulted in the injuries of four people.
On November 15 at about 12:21 a.m., Matthew Sheehy was allegedly driving east on the Long Island Expressway, speeding in his 2022 Ram pick-up truck, swerving in and out of lanes before he veered into the right shoulder of the expressway near Exits 62 and 63. He then crashed into a disabled 2010 Chrysler Town and Country minivan that was parked on the shoulder and had one person inside.
The Chrysler was sent into the expressway’s HOV lane, stopped, and then was hit by a third vehicle, a 2018 Honda CRV, that had three people inside. One occupant in the CRV sustained severe injuries from the crash, including losing sight in one eye, brain bleeding, and a skull fracture. The other two people inside the CRV and the occupant in the Chrysler sustained various injuries that needed medical treatment at local hospitals.
“This defendant allegedly made the reckless choice to drive while impaired by drugs and alcohol, forever changing the lives of innocent people who were simply trying to get to their destinations that day, “ said District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney in an official statement. “What we see in this case is the devastating cost of impaired driving, and we will not tolerate drivers who turn our roadways into danger zones for law-abiding citizens.”
Sheehy was later brought to the hospital, where he was arrested after it was decided that Sheehy was allegedly intoxicated by alcohol and impaired by drugs.
On February 19, Sheehy, 47, was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas, for the following charges:
- one count of aggravated vehicular assault, a Class C felony
- one count of second-degree assault, a Class D felony
- one count of first-degree vehicular assault, a Class D felony
- one count of second-degree vehicular assault, a Class E felony
- two counts of driving while intoxicated, both Class E felonies
- two counts of driving while ability impaired by drugs, both Class E felonies
- one count of driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs or of alcohol and a drug or drugs, a Class E felony
- three counts of third-degree assault, all Class A misdemeanors
- one count of second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor
- one count of reckless driving, an unclassified misdemeanor
- one count of moving from lane unsafely, a traffic infraction
- one count of speeding, a traffic infraction
- one count of driving on shoulder, a traffic infraction
- One count of failing to move over, a traffic infraction
Justice Goglas ordered Sheehy to be held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $1 million partially secured bond. Sheehy is expected back in court on March 12 and faces 5 to 15 years in jail if sentenced on the top count. Michael Brown, Esq, is representing him.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Rosenheck of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was led by Detective Joseph Bianco of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit.