'Homicidal Driver' Charged In Double Fatal Hicksville Crash: DA

An Amityville woman who Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas called a “homicidal driver” surrendered to police on Friday for charges related to a crash that killed a bicyclist and a passenger in a vehicle in Hicksville last year.

Elizabeth Stenson, 58, pleaded not guilty to charges, including murder and attempted murder charges, and faces 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

Singas called this case was a “complex” one.

On June 29, 2016, Stenson was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer southbound on New South Road in Hicksville when she crossed over the yellow lines and began driving the wrong way on the street for blocks, the DA said.

She struck two bicyclists, 73-year-old Dennis Widmyer and his 43-year-old daughter Cari Widmyer who was visiting from California, the DA said. Dennis Widmyer, of Hicksville, was struck by the vehicle and knocked off his bicycle while Cari Widmyer was hit head-on, became lodged under the car and was dragged several hundred feet down the road.

“Mr. Widmyer was able to jump out of the way but he watched helplessly as his daughter was run down and tragically killed,” Singas said in a statement.

Cari Widmyer suffered injuries to her head and her entire body. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Dennis Widmyer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and has since recovered.

A 2009 Nissan Altima that was traveling in the opposite direction on New South Road had to swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid a head-on crash. Stenson clipped the vehicle, continued down the road and then crashed into a house on the corner of New South Road and Meadow Lane, the DA said. The impact from the crash injured her passenger, 65-year-old Copiague resident Duane Nuccio, who died several days later from injuries sustained from the crash. No one in the Nissan was injured.

Stenson was hospitalized for cuts to her arms and contusions to her chest. She was not identified or criminally charged until Friday.

Stenson was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and reckless driving.

She is due back in court on Tuesday, May 23.

Image via NCDA