3 killed in New Hyde Park crash; driver charged with DWI, vehicular manslaughter

A car crash allegedly involving an intoxicated driver left three female passengers dead and others injured late Saturday night in New Hyde Park.

News 12 Staff

May 22, 2022, 2:32 PM

Updated 870 days ago

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A car crash allegedly involving an intoxicated driver left three female passengers dead and others injured late Saturday night in New Hyde Park.
Investigators say a Lincoln Town Car with a driver and five passengers was struck outside The Inn at New Hyde Park by a 2012 Mercedes-Benz sedan occupied by only the driver.
Nassau police say three female passengers in the rear of the Lincoln were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver and remaining passengers of the Lincoln were taken to hospitals and are in stable condition.
Dante Lennon, 22, of Freeport, was arrested and charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Inn security guard Michael McCutchan told News 12 Long Island that the victims were just leaving their granddaughter's sweet 16 party at the catering hall when they were fatally struck.
He said it was around 11 p.m. when he held the door open for the group of people who were leaving the party.
"I had walked them out of The Inn. They just had a sweet 16 Party for their granddaughter. Five minutes getting into their car, they made the right here and they were killed," McCutchan said.
Surveillance video appears to show the Mercedes allegedly driven by Lennon headed down Jericho Turnpike. Police say Lennon then T-boned the Lincoln Town Car, killing the three female passengers who were in the back seat.
Police say Lennon will be arraigned on Monday. The names of the three women who died have not been released yet.