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Man accused in DWI crash that killed Nassau officer facing upgraded charges

Matthew Smith, 20, will now face over a dozen additional charges, including an upgraded charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, court records show.

Tara Rincon

Mar 10, 2026, 5:12 AM

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The man accused of driving drunk and killing a Nassau County police officer is being indicted on new charges.

Matthew Smith, 20, will now face over a dozen additional charges, including an upgraded charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, court records show.

Prosecutors say Smith had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he slammed into Officer Patricia Espinosa's car in Lake Grove on Jan. 31.

As News 12 has reported, the Hauppauge man left a Patchogue bar before the crash and drove to Jake's 58 casino in Islandia, according to his passenger, John Andali.

Smith hit speeds up to 125 miles an hour before the crashing around 6 a.m. that Saturday morning, according to authorities.

42-year-old Espinosa was on her way to work at Nassau’s fifth precinct in Elmont when her vehicle was struck.

Smith will be arraigned on the indictment on Friday.

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