LI Man Accused Of Drugged Driving Indicted; Crash Killed Man, 81: DA

EAST QUOGUE, NY — A Wading River man was indicted Wednesday on charges related to a high-speed crash on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue earlier in June that left a Queens man, 82, dead, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

George Hackett, 52, was indicted on charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony; second-degree manslaughter, a felony; second-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony; leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, a felony; second-degree assault a felony; driving while impaired by the combined influence of drugs, a felony; two counts of driving while impaired by drugs, a felony; circumventing an ignition interlock device, a misdemeanor; and reckless driving, a misdemeanor, police said.

According to court documents, on June 8 at 3:30 a.m., Hackett, who was under the influence of a combination of drugs, was driving a black 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe eastbound on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue between Exits 64 and 65 at a high rate of speed when he struck the rear end of a 2010 Nissan Armada operated by Franklin Blake.

Blake’s car was thrown into the woods, and he died as a result of the injuries he sustained, the DA said.

Hackett’s vehicle rolled over but landed upright, and he continued driving eastbound on Sunrise
Highway until his car broke down less than a mile east of the crash site; Hackett was found more
than a mile away from his vehicle, walking on Route 24 in Flanders, the DA said.

Hackett was arraigned on the indictment by Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski, who ordered bail set in the amount of $1 million cash, $2 million bond, and $10 million
partially secured bond, the DA said.

Hackett is due back in court on July 26 and is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

"This defendant’s alleged actions of running away from the scene of this horrific crash and leaving an innocent person to die were cowardly and selfish," said Tierney. "Anyone that gets caught driving impaired by drugs and endangering the lives of Suffolk County residents will be held accountable."