VALLEY STREAM, NY — A Valley Stream woman was sentenced today to up to six years in prison for a 2025 drunken wrong-way car crash on Hempstead Avenue that hurt the teenage driver and passenger of another vehicle, Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.
Kelyse Land, 26, pleaded guilty on July 20, to aggravated vehicular assault, as well as second-and third-degree assault, and driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.
She originally faced a sentence of four to nine years in prison, as recommended by Donnelly's office.
Her defense attorney, Aaron Wallenstein of Manhattan, said that "other than this unfortunate incident, she has led a pretty productive life."
"She took responsibility for her actions, and is looking forward to moving on," he added.
"Kelyse Land had no regard for the safety of others when she got behind the wheel last July while drunk and high, and her actions caused a head-on crash that seriously injured a pair of teenagers," Donnelly said. "Drunk or impaired driving has been an epidemic for too long in Nassau County, and my office has worked closely with law enforcement for years to curb this behavior with serious consequences."
"Today's sentence serves as a reminder that there is a no-tolerance policy for driving drunk or high, and my office will fully hold offenders accountable," she said.
On July 25, 2025, at around 11:45 p.m., Lynd was driving her 2003 Nissan on Hempstead Avenue, when she crossed over double yellow lane lines, and into oncoming traffic, prosecutors said.
She drove directly into the front of the victims' 2022 BMW as they were stopped at a red light, and the collision caused the BMW to hit another car, according to prosecutors.
The driver of the BMW suffered multiple hand and wrist fractures and lacerations that required more than three dozen stitches, and is now left with permanent limited wrist mobility, prosecutors said, adding, that the vehicle's passenger was also treated for a concussion and sprained ankle.
Blood taken from the defendant three hours after the crash revealed her blood alcohol content was .17%, more than double the legal limit, according to prosecutors.
A reverse extrapolation analysis revealed the defendant's BAC was between .18 and .26 percent at the time of the crash, prosecutors said, adding that an investigation after the crash also recovered an empty 50 ML bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label from Lynd's pocket.
She was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department at the scene shortly after the crash, according to prosecutors.
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