Drunk Driver Who Killed Elderly Greenburgh Couple Receives Sentence

GREENBURGH, NY — The White Plains woman who pleaded guilty to killing an elderly Greenburgh couple while driving drunk was sentenced to prison Thursday. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today that Michelle Bonet, 44, of Stonewall Circle, White Plains was sentenced by to a minimum of four and a maximum of 12 years in state prison on the following charges:

• three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, class “B” Felonies
• two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, class “C” Felonies
• one count of Aggravated Driving while Intoxicated Per Se, a Misdemeanor
• one count of Driving While Intoxicated, a Misdemeanor
• one count of a Driving While Ability Impaired by the combined influence of drugs or of alcohol and any drug or drugs, a Misdemeanor

in the deaths of Henrietta and Carmelo Sbezzi.

Scarpino said, at approximately 2;15 p.m. Oct. 28, 2016, the defendant was driving north by west on West Hartsdale Road in Greenburgh. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

While driving her Chrysler minivan, Bonet was observed by witnesses crossing over the double yellow line multiple times. Just prior to the fatal crash, the defendant nearly collided head-on with a vehicle being operated by a 17-year-old student coming from Maria Regina High School.

A few moments later, while driving over the speed limit, she crossed the double yellow line on West Hartsdale Avenue and collided head-on with a Lexus sedan being driven by Carmelo Sbezzi, 82. In the front passenger’s seat was his wife, Henrietta, 81.

The force of the impact pushed the victims’ car off the road. The vehicles came to rest with the front of each vehicle nearly touching each other and the defendant’s car almost entirely in the opposite lane of traffic.

Police, EMS and fire units responded to the scene. The victims had to be extricated from their vehicle. Bonet, who was the sole occupant of her vehicle, was found slumped over unconscious.

They were all taken to Westchester Medical Center. The Sbezzis died at the hospital.

Two separate blood samples were drawn from Bonet at the hospital at different times. Testing of those samples revealed a blood-alcohol content of 0.29 and 0.25 respectively. The testing also revealed an amount of diazepam also referred to as Valium.

She was remanded into the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections.

Image via Shutterstock.