Massapequa Man Gets Prison Sentence For 2020 Fatal Drunken Crash: DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Massapequa man was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for a fatal drunken driving collision in September 2020, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

John Cappello, 31, pleaded guilty in April to aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault, Donnelly's office said.

"John Cappello made a selfish choice to get behind the wheel at nearly three times the legal limit for alcohol. It was a choice that cost an innocent Manuela Brugueras her life," Donnelly said. "Cappello careened into oncoming traffic and struck Brugueras’ vehicle head-on, destroying both of their vehicles. We hope that today’s prison sentence gives some closure to Manuela’s family."

Cappello entered oncoming traffic at the intersection of Stewart Avenue and Linden Avenue in Bethpage, when he crashed head-on into 74-year-old Bruguera's SUV.

Cappello needed to be extricated from the vehicle because of the severity of the damage to his car. Officers found hypodermic needles and an open pint-sized bottle of vodka in his car, Donnelly said.