This past weekend, State Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) hosted a poignant press conference at the Farmingville Fire Department, calling for immediate legislative action to pass “Nick’s Law,” which would impose stricter penalties on drivers who leave the scene of fatal accidents.
Senator Murray was joined by a coalition of local officials and grieving families who have lost loved ones to hit-and-run drivers, emphasizing the urgency of passing the law to prevent future tragedies.
The families of Nick Puzio, Dean Arnum, and Christopher Hlavaty, young men whose lives were tragically cut short by hit-and-run drivers, stood alongside the officials, voicing their pain and demanding justice.
Elected officials in attendance were New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) (pictured above), New York State Assemblymen Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) and Joe DeStefano (R-Medford), Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches), Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden), Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), and Suffolk County Legislators Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue).
The stories of Nick Puzio, Dean Arnum, and Christopher Hlavaty serve as somber reminders of the devastating consequences that hit-and-run accidents can have on families and communities. All three men were killed by drivers who fled the scene, leaving their loved ones with not only the grief of their loss but the added burden of knowing that the responsible parties had abandoned them in their final moments and are receiving little to no justice through current laws.
The families of these victims have been actively advocating for stronger penalties to ensure that no other families endure the same heartbreak. Nick Puzio, for whom the bill is named, was twenty-five years old when he was killed in a hit-and-run accident in March 2023.
In his remarks at the press conference, Senator Murray stressed that current laws are insufficient in addressing the severity of hit-and-run accidents.
“How many more people have to die? How many more family, friends, and loved ones have to grieve the loss of their loved one, before lawmakers in Albany take action?” asked Murray.
The proposed legislation was introduced in early 2023 in Albany, but it has yet to be passed. Nick’s Law would increase the penalties for fleeing the scene of an accident involving a fatality, raising the offense to a Class B felony, which carries much higher maximum sentences than the current Class D felony on the books. Currently, drivers who flee the scene of fatal accidents can face charges of manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide, but the penalties are often much less severe than if they had stayed and cooperated with law enforcement due to the inability to determine after a period of time if the driver was evading arrest or warrants or was drunk or high at the time of the accident.
Assemblyman Smith echoed Senator Murray’s call for immediate legislative action, noting the lack of accountability for hit-and-run drivers.
“Every moment matters when someone is injured at the scene of an accident. Nick’s Law will make it clear that anyone who flees the scene of an accident resulting in a loss of life will be found and face many years behind bars. There is no excuse,” said Smith.
“Our laws should encourage accountability rather than evasion. As District Attorney, I am committed to advocating for reforms to our laws related to leaving the scene,” said District Attorney Tierney. When speaking directly with The Messenger, Tierney remarked, “This is just one in a whole slate of common-sense laws that the New York Legislature is trying to pass, and I urge them to act”.
Legislator Nick Caracappa and the other local officials also expressed their support for Nick’s Law, underscoring the need to protect their communities from such senseless tragedies.
“This one hits home for me. I’ve known Nick’s family for many years. To see the grief they are experiencing due to the loss of Nick is extremely difficult for me and to those that know this family,” said Caracappa. “Families, friends, and entire communities are all affected by these tragic circumstances and it’s time we came together to show support for all those impacted by those who commit these horrific acts of cruelty”.
The families of Nick Puzio, Dean Arnum, and Christopher Hlavaty spoke of their continued heartbreak over the loss of their loved ones and the hole in their lives that will never be replaced. Their stories highlighted that this tragedy could happen to anyone’s family.
“How does someone hit a human being and drive away and go on with their life as if nothing happened? Where is the humanity? Nick had so much to live for,” said Theresa Puzio, Nick’s mother. “No parent should ever have to see a child die. As a parent, my worst nightmare happened.”
The families left the press conference with the hope that this renewed push for Nick’s Law would finally bring about the change they have long been fighting for. Their advocacy, alongside the backing of key lawmakers, offers a glimmer of hope that Albany will do the right thing, take action, and pass the much-needed legislation.
As the community continues to rally around these families, the collective call for justice and accountability grows louder.
“The time for passing this bill is now,” concluded Murray.
For those affected, Nick’s Law is not just a legislative effort, it is a deeply personal fight for justice that they hope will save future lives.