Oyster Bay Man Gets Five Years for Glen Cove Drunk Driving Crash

Mejia critically injured 60-year old woman; license was suspended due to previous DWI conviction

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that an Oyster Bay man who crashed, while drunk, head-on into a 60-year old woman after stealing a running car from a nearby Glen Cove home, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison by a Nassau County judge.

Frank Mejia, 20, of Oyster Bay, pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree, felony Driving While Intoxicated, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree on February 25.

Rice said that at about 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2008, Mejia stole a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had been left running in front of a Glen Cove home. Mejia then began driving erratically and at a high rate speed until he crossed into oncoming traffic on Duck Pond Lane and crashed head-on into Mary Jordan’s 1990 Mercury Cougar. The force of the crash was enough to flip the Jeep onto its hood. Jordan, of Glen Cove, was in critical condition after the crash with multiple leg fractures and brain hemorrhaging, and was briefly in a coma. She is still recovering from her injuries.

Rice said that Mejia, who sustained a broken foot in the crash and was apprehended by Glen Cove police quickly after fleeing the scene, was on probation at the time of the crash and was driving with a suspended license after he pleaded guilty to Driving While Intoxicated in October 2008.

“Mr. Mejia’s drunk and reckless actions made this crash inevitable,” Rice said. “We were fully prepared to take this case to trial before the defendant took responsibility for his actions.”

Handling the case for the District Attorney's Office is Assistant District Attorney Brendan Ahern of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County.