Driver accused in deadly Massapequa crash pleads not guilty to several charges
Michael Deangelo, of Lindenhurst, was arraigned on charges including the top count of aggravated vehicular homicide.
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Michael DeAngelo, accused of speeding while impaired by drugs and causing a crash that left four members of a family dead, was arraigned on an indictment Wednesday.
The 32-year-old from Lindenhurst is facing a slew of charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while ability impaired by drugs and reckless driving.
Prosecutors said just before the crash, he was driving at 120 mph. He was allegedly high on fentanyl and cocaine.
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DeAngelo was in a wheelchair at his arraignment. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea on the defendant’s behalf.
Those killed in the crash include Patrice Huntley, a U.S. veteran, his children Jeremiah and Hannah and his step-granddaughter Chantel. The crash occurred Aug. 6 on Sunrise Highway around 7:15 p.m.
New information was revealed in court Wednesday. The prosecutor told the judge that days before the crash, police responded to the defendant’s home where he was allegedly in possession of crack cocaine. In a separate incident, also just days before the crash, DeAngelo was allegedly overdosing and 911 was called. After that, the defendant allegedly drove “dangerously and recklessly” over neighbors’ lawns and fled from police.
He is now being held without bail.
