Oceanside Man Had Alcohol, Cocaine And Marijuana In System At Time Of DWI Crash That Killed 78-Year-Old: DA

MINEOLA, NY — An Oceanside man is facing manslaughter and DWI charges this week in connection with a June DWI crash that took the life of a 78-year-old woman, prosecutors said Thursday.

Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly said 24-year-old Niall Duignan was arraigned Thursday on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, DWI per se, DWI, driving while ability impaired by drugs, driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs or of alcohol and drugs, and multiple traffic violations.

According to prosecutors, Duignan ran a red light in Oceanside in his 2004 Chevy Express at about 4:40 p.m. on June 18. When he ran the red light at the intersection of Weidner Avenue and Long Beach Road, 78-year-old Patricia Pfaus was in the crosswalk, crossing Weidner Avenue on foot, prosecutors said. Duignan made a right turn against the light onto Long Beach Road and hit Pfaus with his car, prosecutors said.

Following the crash, Duignan was arrested and Pfaus was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau with facial fractures, a lacerated liver, broken ribs and a traumatic brain injury, prosecutors said. She remained on a ventilator until July 17, at which point she was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

Blood drawn from Duignan about two-and-a-half hours later revealed a BAC of .15 percent, prosecutors said, while a toxicology report revealed that he had cocaine and marijuana in his system.

Thursday, Duignan pleaded not guilty to all charges, prosecutors said. He is due back in court Oct. 19 and could face five to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty, prosecutors said.

“With no regard for anyone else, Niall Duignan consciously got behind the wheel while allegedly impaired by alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana. As the defendant sat at a red light, he never once checked for pedestrians in the crosswalk before he hit the gas, slamming into 78-year-old Patricia Pfaus,” Donnelly said. “Patricia’s loved ones agonized for a whole month as she fought for her life on a ventilator, and now they’re grieving the full weight of her death. This tragedy was as preventable as it was criminal, and my office will seek justice for Patricia and her family as we prosecute this case.”