Grasso Family Alleges Cover Up in Daughter's Death

Six months after claimed the life of 17-year-old , her family is accusing Nassau County of covering up negligence that led to the teen's death.

Michael and Linda Grasso say that neglect on the part of the county and a delay in transport to a hospital are to blame for their daughter's death, and they have filed a notice of claim against the county, according to the family's attorney Thomas F. Liotti.

“Our county government is inept and dysfunctional on many levels," said Liotti, who has called for an immediate investigation by the New York State Special Investigations prosecutor. "Its solutions to problems are to hide and cover up. That is unacceptable in a free and open society. We will get to the bottom of this one way or the other.”

The Grassos said they have been trying to gain the accident records – including helicopter flight log books and 911 calls – since January, and have met with or spoken to the county executive; the police commissioner; the chief of vehicular crimes for the Nassau District Attorney’s Office among others.

Grasso's father Michael said that his daughter was still conscious and talking when she was taken to . He said that first responders waited for at least 45 minutes for a helicopter to arrive and transport her to the Nassau County Medical Center.

“Glen Cove Hospital was thirty seconds away; North Shore Hospital’s Manhasset Trauma Center was closer and so was St. Francis," said Michael Grasso. "The delay was critical. There was a further delay in necessary treatment once she got to the Medical Center that was a contributing cause of her death.”

While county executive and Nassau police had agreed to open another investigation and provide crash records, the Grassos say that no county officials have reported back to them, according to a news release.

A representative for Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said the county cannot comment on pending litigation.

Grasso's mother Linda says the family has been in a state of shock since the teen's death: "Our unheeded request for information has taken us from frustration to controlled anger,” she said.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.