NY driver was high on fentanyl, cocaine when he killed Marine vet, 3 young family members in multi-car wreck: prosecutors
The Long Island driver who allegedly caused a multi-car wreck that killed a Marine veteran and three of his family members was high on both fentanyl and cocaine — and had needles and a pipe in his car — at the time of the high-speed crash, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Michael DeAngelo, 32, was indicted on six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide for the Aug. 6 wreck that killed Patrice Huntley and two of his children in East Massapequa.
Prosecutors allege he was on drugs when he smashed his zooming Hyundai Kona into three other vehicles — including Huntley’s SUV — on Sunrise Highway at Unqua Road.
The force from the collision sent the SUV spinning around into the intersection, facing oncoming traffic, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office said.
Huntley, a US Marines vet who was taking family members out for ice cream to celebrate his new job offer, was killed, along with his son, Jeremiah Huntley, 10 and his daughter, Hannah Huntley, 13, who were riding in the car with him.
His six-year-old granddaughter, Chantel Solomon, died of her injuries six days later.
When cops arrested DeAngelo, they saw he had track marks on his arm and hands — and found needles and a pipe in and around his car, prosecutors said.
“Patrice Huntley and three children – members of the same family – were killed due to the extraordinarily reckless actions of a defendant who was allegedly driving 120 miles an hour while impaired by cocaine and fentanyl,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said in a statement.
“No one was safe on Sunrise Highway that Sunday evening and tragically Patrice, Jeremiah, Hannah, and Chantel lost their lives while going to get ice cream,” Donnelly said.
“No family should ever have to bury four loved ones at the same time and my office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure justice for Patrice’s family, friends, and community.”
DeAngelo appeared in a wheelchair at his arraignment in Nassau County Supreme Court Wednesday, and pleaded not guilty.
If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
He’s due back in court on October 19.
