Designated Driver Pleads Guilty to 9 DWI, Vehicular Assault Counts

A Southeast man who agreed to serve as his friends’ “designated driver” —but instead got drunk and stoned and injured them when he crashed—has pleaded guilty to nine criminal counts.

Michael Skalaski, 22, of Shady Lane pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to four counts of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, C Felonies, two misdemeanor charges of Driving While Intoxicated; Driving While Ability Impaired By Drugs, a misdemeanor; Driving While Ability Impaired by Combined Influence of Drugs or Alcohol, and Reckless Driving, misdemeanors.

“As the designated driver, Michael Skalaski had no business smoking pot and drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel of his 4,000-pound vehicle,” said District Attorney Adam Levy. “The choices he made put in motion a series of events that were both foreseeable and preventable and it is because of those choices that he will spend up to 4 ½ years in prison.”

On the evening of March 16, 2014, after smoking marijuana throughout the day, Skalaski joined three friends at an pub for the purpose of being their safe, designated ride home, the DA said. Instead, he drank into the early morning of March 17, when the bar closed and they were asked to leave.

The DA said Skalaski then attempted to drive his friends home by pulling out onto Route 22 and traveling in excess of 70 mph, and onto Milltown Road, where his speeds topped 80 mph. Reportedly, his passengers repeatedly pleaded with Skalaski to stop and let them out.

Instead, he continued driving recklessly at high speed, before losing control on Milltown Road near Mountain Brook Drive and crashing into a large tree, the DA said.

The front seat passenger was flown by StatFlight to Westchester Medical Center with a traumatic brain injury, despite being properly seat belted at the time. He spent several months in the hospital and in rehab centers, and has permanent, life-altering physical injuries. Skalaski and the two rear seat passengers suffered numerous injuries including fractures and contusions, and they have recovered, the DA said.

Skalaski had been arrested before—in 2011 with three other teens for painting graffiti in various places in Lewisboro, including anti-Semitic slurs at the home of a Jewish family in South Salem.

SEE: Updated: Hate Crime Charges Against Lewisboro Youths Replaced by Aggravated Harassment

Levy commended Peter Ciaci of the New York State Police for leading the intensive investigation into the crash, and ADA Joseph Charbonneau for his meticulous handling of the case and compassion in guiding the victims and their families through the court process.

Skalaski will be sentenced Oct. 21 before Hon. James T. Rooney and faces 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in state prison. Each of the victims were consulted with and agreed to the terms of the plea. Several victims and many family members were in court and witnessed Skalaski admit to his criminal conduct, the DA said.