Nassau Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Elderly Couple In Car Crash

A Massapequa man pleaded guilty on Monday to vehicular manslaughter charges in a crash that killed an elderly couple from Melville last April.

John Hartwig, 63, pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular manslaughter and two counts of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He is due back in court for sentencing on March 13 and is expected to receive 3 1/2 to 10 1/2 years in prison.

On April 22, 2017 at 8:10 p.m., Hartwig was driving east on Merrick Road in Massapequa when he struck and killed 77-year-olds Melvyn and Barbara Glickman. The couple was walking to their car after finishing dinner with their family at a nearby restaurant.

Hartwig blew a .13 percent blood alcohol level on a breathalyzer test after the crash, and admitted that he had drank 10 beers that night at the bar he owns, McQuade's in Lynbrook. He was driving home from the bar at the time of the crash.

“This defendant admitted to drinking 10 beers at a bar before getting behind the wheel around 8 p.m. and he stole the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Glickman who were simply coming from dinner,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “The defendant's criminal actions have caused the Glickman family an unspeakable loss.”

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office