Plainview Woman Pleads Guilty In Fatal, 'Drug-Fueled Crash': NCDA

EAST MEADOW, NY — A Plainview woman pleaded guilty on Friday to charges related to a "drug-fueled" East Meadow crash that killed 55-year-old Steven Diamond, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office said.

Cassandra Panetta, 41, was high on methamphetamine during the fatal crash, when she ran a red light and struck a car in August 2025, the DA's office said.

Subscribe

"Steven Diamond was on his way to spend a summer afternoon at the beach with friends, but because of this defendant's careless actions, he sadly never made it there," NCDA Anne Donnelly said.

Panetta pleaded guilty on Sep. 18 before Judge Helene Gugerty on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, and driving while ability impaired by drugs, the DA's office said. She is due back in court on Dec. 8 and can be sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, the DA's office said.

"High on methamphetamine in the middle of the day, Cassandra Panetta got behind the wheel, plowed through a red light, and crashed into the car where Steven was riding in the back seat, taking his life in an instant," DA Donnelly said. "Our hearts are with his family as they continue to grieve this immeasurable loss, and we hope today's guilty plea gives them some measure of justice knowing the defendant will spend the next several years answering for this senseless tragedy."

On Aug. 10, 2025, Panetta was driving her 2021 Nissan Maxima along Carman Avenue in East Meadow headed to Plainview at about 1 p.m., the NCDA said.

According to DA Donnelly, Panetta drove through a red light on Carman Avenue without braking and crashed into the drivers' side of a vehicle as it was turning. The vehicle that was hit was carrying three passengers and was attempting to make a left turn through a green light onto Carman Avenue from Salisbury Park Drive, DA Donnelly said.

Steven Diamond was in the backseat and was isn cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived at the scene, DA Donnelly said. He was transported to Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow where he was pronounced deceased at 3:13 p.m., DA Donnelly said.

According to prosecutors, the driver of the vehicle suffered a concussion and the front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries, while the vehicle sustained heavy damage.

Panetta fractured her wrist in the crash, DA Donnelly said. After her blood was taken at the hospital, it was revealed that both methamphetamine and amphetamine were present, prosecutors said.

She was arrested on October 17, 2025, by Nassau County Police Department's homicide Squad, the DA's office said.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney James Taglienti of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Michael Bushwack and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Daryl Levy, and Panetta is represented by Marc Gann, Esq., prosecutors said.