Nassau County Driver Gets Prison In Crash That Hurt Cop

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A New Hyde Park man accused of intoxicated driving in a crash that left a Nassau County police officer hurt was sentenced Friday to six to 12 years in prison, his attorney said. Keith Dillon pleaded guilty in May under a deal with prosecutors to aggravated vehicular assault, assault and drunken driving. He sentenced Friday.

Dillon was speeding in his pickup truck on Glen Cove Road in Greenvale on New Year's Day when he crossed the center median and crashed head-on into an unmarked police car, prosecutors said. He was under the influence of cocaine and Xanax, the district attorney's office said at the time.

The crash left Officer William Gomes, who was on DWI patrol, seriously hurt. He suffered a brain bleed, broken elbow and leg fractures which required multiple surgeries to repair. He now walks with a permanent limp and cannot fully bend his left elbow or touch his face with his left hand.

Dillon suffered a fractured ankle from the crash. He teared up in court when the officer addressed him, News12 reported.

"From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply sorry for my selfish and reckless acts," Dillon reportedly said.

Dillon's attorney Marc Gann, of the law firm Collins, Gann, McCloskey and Barry, told Patch on Friday it was an emotional sentencing hearing in which Dillon sincerely and effectively took responsibility for his actions. Gann said the sentence was not unexpected.

"Keith wanted to enter [the plea deal] because he has for some time wanted to express remorse and responsibility," said Gann.