Man Sentenced In Crash That Killed 1, Injured 7: DA

SHIRLEY, NY — A Mastic man who was caught driving on drugs was sentenced to six to 18 years in prison after a fatal crash near Shirley on March 31, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini.

The crash killed one and injured seven others in the crash on the Long Island Expressway, Sini said.

“In this day and age, there is no excuse for anyone to get behind the wheel of a car if they’ve been doing drugs or drinking,” Sini said. “A woman lost her life and the victims who survived this horrific crash had their lives changed forever because of this defendant’s senseless decision.”

Peter Visconti Jr., 38, pleaded guilty on Oct. 11 to aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony; three counts of second degree assault, a felony; three counts of third degree assault a misdemeanor; first degree operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor; and third degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, police said.

He was sentenced Tuesday by Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho to six to 18 years in prison, Sini said.

At 3:30 p.m. on March 31, Visconti was driving a 2004 Ford pickup truck westbound on the LIE 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; the force of the impact caused the side panel from the minivan to become impaled on Visconti’s truck, Sini said.

A passenger in the Toyota minivan was pronounced dead at the Long Island Medical Center in East Patchogue following the crash; 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, but the passengers in the Honda minivan did not receive medical treatment, Sini said.

Visconti Jr. was transported to Brookhaven Hospital for treatment of minor injuries; 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. He was also driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash, Sini said.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sean MacDonnell of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.

Patch photo courtesy Tim Sini.