Man Indicted In LIE Crash That Killed 1, Left 7 Injured: DA

SHIRLEY, NY — Charges have been upgraded against a man involved in a Long Island Expressway crash in March that left one dead and seven injured, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini announced Friday.

Peter Visconti, Jr., 37, of Mastic, was allegedly driving while impaired by drugs at the time of the crash.

Visconti was arraigned Friday on a 20-count indictment, including aggravated vehicular homicide, second degree manslaughter, second degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, four counts of second degree assault, and four counts of second degree vehicular assault, all felonies, Sini said.

“This was a tragic incident that could have been avoided if not for the reckless actions of the defendant,” Sini said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, several of whom are still recovering from their injuries, and the family of the deceased. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office will do everything in our power to hold this individual accountable for the pain and suffering he caused.”

Visconti is also charged with three counts of third degree assault, first degree operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, reckless driving, second degree reckless endangerment, and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors.

At 3:30 p.m. on March 31, Visconti was driving a 2004 Ford pickup truck westbound on the Long Island Expressway near William Floyd Parkway in Shirley when he struck a 2011 Honda minivan; he was driving erratically and had veered off the road twice prior to the crash, Sini said.

Visconti’s truck crossed over the median and onto the eastbound lanes where it struck a motorcycle and a 2013 Toyota minivan, Sini said. The force of the impact caused the side panel from the minivan to become impaled on Visconti’s truck, the DA added.

A passenger in the Toyota minivan was pronounced dead at the Long Island Medical Center in East Patchogue following the crash, and the other six passengers in the van, who were all visiting from China, were injured in the crash and transported to area hospitals, Sini said. Three of the passengers suffered serious physical injuries, Sini said.

The motorcyclist also suffered serious physical injury; the passengers in the Honda minivan did not receive medical treatment, Sini said.

Visconti was transported to Brookhaven Hospital for treatment of minor injuries; while there, he was interviewed at the hospital by a drug recognition expert from the Suffolk County Police Department who determined Visconti was exhibiting signs of being impaired by a drug, Sini said.

Visconti consented to a blood test, which tested positive for alprazolam, or Xanax, and cocaine, Sini said.

Sini was also driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash, Sini said.

Bail was set at the arraignment by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond; he is due back in court on May 17, Sini said.

Video by Fully Involved Media Group / John Walthers