Setauket Doctor Faces Upgraded Manslaughter Charge in Fatal Smithtown Crash

A grand jury has indicted a Setauket doctor on a manslaughter charge stemming from a crash in Smithtown that killed a Middle Island woman in June, authorities said Monday.

Thomas Stavola, 55, pleaded not guilty to upgraded charges before State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho Monday morning.

Stavola, a cardiologist, is accused of being drunk when his 2013 Audi struck a 2009 Mercedes at the intersection of East Main Street and Route 111 shortly before 4 a.m. on June 14. Stavola’s blood, drawn 90 minutes after the crash, had a blood-alcohol content of .10, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Monica Peterman, the sole occupant of the Mercedes, was on her way to work as an x-ray technician at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown at the time of the crash. Peterman, a 45-year-old mother of three, died from injuries sustained in the crash at the same hospital, police said.

Prosecutors allege that Stavola walked away from the scene of the crash.

“What I found most troubling is the fact that a physician chose not to render any kind of aid or use his cellphone to call 911 to get some assistance for a seriously injured motorist,” Spota said.

In a statement, Stavola’s attorney Alex Spiro said: “Dr. Stavola is a devoted father, revered doctor, and well respected member of his community. This terrible accident remains a tragedy for everyone involved.”

Stavola, who was originally only charged with DWI , now faces charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, DWI, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving.

Stavola remains free on $250,000 bond.

SCPD Photo/Thomas Stavola

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