Conference hearing held in case of driver accused in deadly Massapequa crash
The conference hearing was with lawyers who updated the judge on the case ahead of it being presented to a grand jury.
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The man charged in a fatal Massapequa crash had his license suspended Tuesday during a court hearing.
The conference hearing was with lawyers who updated the judge on the case ahead of it being presented to a grand jury.
Michael Deangelo was not in court and is still hospitalized. Deangelo has undergone three to four surgeries since the four-car crash.
The crash that killed four people happened last Sunday on Sunrise Highway near Unqua.
FURTHER COVERAGE: Family of Massapequa crash victims say emotional toll is 'just overwhelming'
Police say Deangelo, 32, caused the crash and reached a speed of 120 mph before impact.
Court documents say Deangelo was high on cocaine and fentanyl prior to the crash. Deangelo's lawyer, Karl Seaman, disputes that and says there is no indication his client is a drug user.
“They have not even completed those toxicology reports,” Seman says. “The presence of any controlled substance in someone’s body is not proof that they were impaired at the time of the event. Your body will contain those elements for days, if not weeks thereafter.”
Three people initially died in the crash. A fourth victim, a 6-year-old girl, died from her injuries days following the accident.
Deangelo is already facing several charges, including three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and DWI.
The district attorney’s office anticipates another homicide charge will be added to the case in the grand jury.
Some of the family members of the victims were in court and say they want justice for their family.
“This is absolutely atrocious, the fact that so many lives could be taken because of one reckless driver that was intoxicated,” says Empress Adama Kefentse-Huntley, one of the victim’s cousins.
Another hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21.
