DA: Jury Selection For Aggravated Vehicular Homicide Trial to Begin on Tuesday

The jury selection for the aggravated vehicular homicide trial of a Flanders man began in Central Islip on Tuesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

The incident occurred on January 5, 2014 when Joseph Perez, 31, was driving his F-150 pickup at a high rate of speed westbound on Montauk Highway entering Hampton Bays after leaving the Dream Nightclub where he had crashed into a parked car as he was leaving, according to the DA.

He drove onto the shoulder of the road by the Ponquogue Avenue intersection, sideswiped a parked car and hit another car and the driver who was outside of the car delivering newspapers, according to the DA.

The driver who was hit, Donna Sartori, 56, of Middle Island, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“This office secured a blood warrant and the analysis of the defendant’s blood established he had a blood alcohol level of .20, nearly three times the legal threshold of intoxication approximately four hours after the crash,” Spota said.

Perez is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and leaving the scene in the nine count indictment, according to the DA.

The top count, aggravated vehicular homicide, is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho will preside at trial.

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