Nassau Man Sentenced For Crash That Nearly Killed 4

Last week, a Freeport man was sentenced to five years in prison and two years of post-release supervision for a 2017 crash that nearly killed multiple people.

Kelvin O'Neal, 44, pleaded guilty on March 21 to two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in physical injury.

“This defendant drove at outrageous speeds, crashed into innocent victims causing horrific injuries, and then fled the scene,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “I’m grateful to the Nassau County Police Department for tracking down this menace and to our prosecutors for bringing him to justice.”

On Dec. 30, 2017, around 2:30 a.m., O'Neal was driving a black Mercedes at excessive speed east on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown when he drove through a red light at the intersection of Wantagh Avenue and crashed into three other cars.

O'Neal first hit the driver's side of a 2017 Dodge pickup truck, causing it to overturn and burst into flames. The driver of the truck suffered broken ribs, pulmonary contusions and a brain bleed. He had to be placed into a medically induced coma, and Singas said he still suffers from his injuries. The passenger in the truck suffered a broken collar bone and fractured her ankle and foot, which Singas said resulted in early onset arthritis.

After hitting the truck, O'Neal's car hit a Jeep, injuring the driver and passenger of that car as well. He then hit a third car, damaging the vehicle, but not injuring the driver.

O'Neal abandoned his car and fled the scene on foot. He was arrested by Nassau County police on May 22, 2018.