Man Was High On Fentanyl In Crash That Killed Teacher: DA

MATTITUCK, NY — A Mattituck man was indicted Wednesday on an 11-count indictment after he left the scene of a fatal crash that occurred while he was impaired by fentanyl, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Keith Clancy, 32, was charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony; second degree manslaughter, a felony; second degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony; leaving the scene of an accident without reporting, a felony; tampering with physical evidence, a felony; driving while ability impaired by drugs, a felony; first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a felony; second degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor; seventh degree possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and reckless driving, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

At 12:21 p.m. on July 14, Clancy was driving a 2014 Nissan sedan southbound on Lake Avenue in St. James when he left his lane, crossing onto the shoulder of the road and striking Michael McDermott, who was jogging northbound.

McDermott, 37, of Smithtown, was thrown 100 feet from the point of impact, Sini said. He was pronounced dead at the scene . McDermott was employed as a teacher and coach with the Kings Park School District, Sini said.

He was mourned as a "wonderful man" after the tragic crash; a vigil was held to mourn his loss.

Clancy left the scene of the crash and was apprehended by Suffolk County Police officers at 12:49 p.m. while traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 69 in Manorville, Sini said.

Clancy’s vehicle was severely damaged with a large hole in its windshield and blood on both the exterior and interior of the vehicle; the vehicle was also missing its front license plate, which was recovered at the scene of the crash, Sini said.

A blood test taken approximately three and one-half hours after the crash revealed a high level of fentanyl in Clancy’s blood, and a search warrant executed on Clancy’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of a glassine envelope of fentanyl, Sini said.

Clancy was arraigned on the indictment Wednesday in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho, and bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond, Sini said. He is due back in court on Sept. 10, Sini said.

If convicted of the top count, Clancy faces a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison, Sini said.

“Drugged driving is often deadly, as it was in this case,” Sini said. “We lost a beloved member of our community and nothing will bring him back. We will seek justice in this case.”