Man Gets Maximum Sentence for Fatal Hit-and-Run in Port Washington

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A Baldwin man received a maximum sentence Wednesday for fatally hitting a pedestrian in Port Washington and fleeing the scene while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Cosmin Florea, 34, was sentenced to 2-1/3 to seven years in prison for hitting a Lynbrook man and leaving him in the street on the night of Aug. 15, 2014, according to the Office of the District Attorney of Nassau County.

Florea was driving a 2010 Ford Fusion when he struck Donald Mooney, 49, who was walking across Main Street, west of South Bayles Avenue, at 11:57 p.m.

Mooney died from his injuries at North Shore University Hospital.

Florea fled the scene and was later stopped by an officer in Queens who noticed damage to the his windshield. The suspect told the officer he hit a deer, police said.

Florea admitted to having a .13 BAC and active marijuana in his blood more than three hours after the crash, police said.

He pleaded guilty in March to vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, two counts of driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired by the combined use of alcohol and drugs.

Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas looks to increase the maximum sentence for fleeing the scene. “Today I join the Mooney family in calling for the Legislature to finally increase the penalties to a maximum of 5 to 15 years for these cases so the law doesn’t work to encourage drivers to leave,” Singas said in a statement Wednesday.

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