DA: Long Island Man Drove Drunk, Killed Man in Hit-and-Run Crash, Burned Evidence

A Long Island man has been arrested and charged with causing a fatal crash in 2014 while driving drunk on the Southern State Parkway, leaving the scene of the crash and then burning the car to destroy evidence, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas and the New York State Police announced Wednesday.

Madi Grant, 34, of Oyster Bay, was arrested Tuesday and arraigned Wednesday on several charges, including second degree manslaughter and second degree vehicular manslaughter. He faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison if convicted.

On Dec. 5, 2014, Grant drank alcohol, smoked marijuana and spent several hours in a Queens strip club before driving a borrowed rental Chevrolet Captiva eastbound on the Southern State Parkway at 4 a.m., authorities said.

Grant was about a half-mile away from the Route 110 exit when he accelerated across all three lanes of traffic, from the left lane to the right lane, and crashed into the rear of another car, driven by 59-year-old Sherman Richardson of Hempstead, at around 6:30 a.m., the DA said.

Richardson’s car veered off the parkway and slammed into a tree on the side of the road. Richardson, who was on his way to work as an ironworker, was killed instantly.

A good Samaritan who was driving eastbound on Southern State stopped to help Richardson while another good Samaritan followed Grant as he fled the parkway at Exit 32, the DA said.

The good Samaritan flashed his headlights, honked his horn at the driver and eventually lost his pursuit of the Chevrolet Captiva, but not before calling 911, giving police a description of the car and returning to the scene of the crash.

Grant’s car was allegedly speeding through several red lights and stop signs and driving as fast as 70 mph while making rapid turns through the side streets of Amityville to flee the scene.

According to the DA, Grant and at least one other person lit the Captiva on fire to destroy all evidence of the crash later that day. The car was found engulfed in flames on a residential street at 3:30 p.m., soon after school had let out for the day.

“This defendant is charged with killing an innocent man by driving recklessly and while intoxicated,” Singas said in a statement. “He left Mr. Richardson to die while he tried to protect himself by fleeing the scene and burning the car. I am so grateful to the New York State Police and the members of my office who worked in partnership to bring about this indictment in spite of the defendant’s efforts to thwart the investigation and destroy physical evidence.”

Grant was indicted Wednesday on the following charges:

• Second degree manslaughter
• Second degree vehicular manslaughter
• Second degree assault
• Leaving the scene of an incident without reporting
• DWI
• Driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs
• Reckless driving
• Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
• Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
• Second degree reckless endangerment
• Third degree arson
• Fourth degree conspiracy
• Tampering with physical evidence

Bail for Grant was set at $1,000,000 bond or $500,000 cash. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. Grant is due back in court on Friday.

Image via NCDA