A Georgia woman was arraigned on June 4 on manslaughter and other charges for allegedly driving while high on marijuana and T-boning another vehicle on Sunrise Highway in Massapequa, causing the death of the 64-year-old driver and injuries to another passenger in April 2024.
Rachel Lodice, 21, was arraigned today before Judge Tammy Robbins on charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a D felony); Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); Assault in the Third Degree (an A misdemeanor); Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting as a Felony (a D felony); Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (a B misdemeanor); Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor); Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a D felony); Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (an E felony) and Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was continued at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond and $1.25 million partially secured bond. She is due back in court on July 8, 2024. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 7-1/3 to 22 years in prison.
On the evening of April 23, 2024, Lodice got into her 2023 Kia Rio at a Target store in Hicksville and began driving south on Newbridge Road. A short time later, Lodice pulled into a Walgreens parking lot at the corner of Old Country Road and Hicksville Road where she stopped momentarily.
She then pulled onto Hicksville Road and allegedly began driving erratically at a high rate of speed. The defendant drove approximately six miles southbound on Hicksville Road and at multiple points allegedly drove on the wrong side of the double yellow line, around medians, and through several red traffic lights.
At approximately 6:45 p.m. Lodice allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Hicksville Road and Sunrise Highway while impaired by marijuana and t-boned a 2022 Nissan Altima driven by 64-year-old Cynthia Mitchell and carrying another passenger.
Mitchell suffered extensive injuries and was transported to Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), where she was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival. Mitchell’s passenger suffered several broken ribs and a spleen hematoma and was also transported to NUMC where she was treated and released.
According to the event data recorder from Lodice’s vehicle, the defendant was allegedly driving approximately 75 miles per hour five seconds before the crash. The speed limit at that section of roadway is 35 miles per hour.
Mitchell and her friend were on their way to a Hobby Lobby store in Massapequa to go shopping at the time of the crash.
A Town of Oyster Bay Public Safety Officer traveling eastbound on Sunrise Highway saw the collision and stopped to assist and block off traffic. The officer assisted the defendant, asked her to stay in the area, and proceeded to the victim vehicle. Lodice allegedly then entered the driver’s side of the officer’s vehicle and drove the car eastbound on Sunrise Highway away from the crash site.
Lodice allegedly drove the vehicle several miles before stopping on Neptune Avenue in Seaford where the street had a dead end. The Town of Oyster Bay public safety vehicle was equipped with GPS tracking technology and a remote “kill” switch to disengage the engine when the vehicle is stationary.
The vehicle was disabled, and Lodice was taken into custody by officers of the Nassau County Police Department’s Bureau of Special Operations.
“Rachel Lodice was allegedly high on marijuana when she drove a harrowing several miles down Hicksville Road, speeding into oncoming traffic, weaving in and out of lanes, running red lights and narrowly missing other cars,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “This defendant’s alleged trail of terror ended only when she blew one last red light onto Sunrise Highway, slamming into Cynthia Mitchell’s vehicle, ending her life and injuring her friend. Cynthia was a wife and mother to a teenage daughter who will now graduate high school this month with an empty seat where her mother should be sitting beaming with pride. Whether a person is impaired by alcohol or marijuana, driving impaired can end in tragedy. I urge Nassau County residents to heed this warning: do not get behind the wheel high on marijuana. Our thoughts remain with Cynthia’s family and friends as they grieve her tremendous loss.”