An Oceanside man was indicted on manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, and other drunk and drugged driving charges for allegedly striking a 78-year-old woman in a crosswalk in June, killing her.
On June 18 at approximately 4:40 p.m., Niall Duignan was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Express van and allegedly stopped at a red light at the intersection of Weidner Avenue and Long Beach Road in Oceanside.
At the time, Patricia Pfaus, 78, was crossing Weidner Avenue in the crosswalk when the defendant allegedly suddenly made a right-hand turn, against the red light, onto Long Beach Road and struck Pfaus with his vehicle.
The victim was taken to South Nassau Hospital with serious injuries, including facial fractures, a lacerated liver, broken ribs, and a traumatic brain injury. She remained on a ventilator for nearly a month before being pronounced deceased on July 17.
Blood drawn from the defendant approximately two-and-a-half hours after the crash reportedly revealed a BAC of .15%. A toxicology report also revealed the presence of cocaine and marijuana in his system. Duignan was arrested by the Nassau County Police Department on June 18.
Duignan, 24, was arraigned on September 3 before Judge Colin O’Donnell on grand jury indictment charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a Class C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree Assault in the Second Degree (both Class D felonies); Driving While Intoxicated Per Se, Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or of Alcohol and Any Drug or Drugs (all unclassified misdemeanors); Stopping, Standing, or Parking a Vehicle in Specified Place and Failure to Stop at a Steady Red Traffic Light (both violations).
“With no regard for anyone else, Niall Duignan consciously got behind the wheel while allegedly impaired by alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana. As the defendant sat at a red light, he never once checked for pedestrians in the crosswalk before he hit the gas,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “Patricia’s loved ones agonized for a whole month as she fought for her life on a ventilator, and now they’re grieving the full weight of her death. This tragedy was as preventable as it was criminal, and my office will seek justice for Patricia and her family as we prosecute this case.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond, and $500,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on October 19, 2026. If convicted, the defendant faces five to 15 years in prison.