Suffolk Man Convicted of Manslaughter in DWI Crash That Killed Girlfriend

Bauer faces up to 15 years in prison for 2008 Wantagh Parkway crash

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that an Islip Terrace man has been convicted of manslaughter and other charges after he crashed  his car into several trees off the Wantagh Parkway in September 2008, killing his girlfriend who was a passenger in the car.

Michael Bauer, 53, was convicted by a jury of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree and Reckless Driving. He faces up to 15 years in prison at his December 4 sentencing.

Rice said that at 11:30 p.m. on September 5, 2008, Bauer and his girlfriend, Mary McInerney, 59, of Hicksville, were driving northbound on the Wantagh Parkway after a night of drinking at a bar on Freeport’s Nautical Mile. Bauer, who was driving at speeds approaching 85 miles per hour, lost control of his 2004 BMW 325i, skidding nearly 400 feet and off the roadway before violently striking several trees and coming to a rest near the footbridge connecting the parkway to Wantagh High School.

“Mr. Bauer did not set out that night to kill his girlfriend, but his reckless decision to drink and drive made this tragedy inevitable,” Rice said. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those individuals who endanger innocent passengers and motorists by drinking and driving.”

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Lampert of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau is handling the cases for the District Attorney's Office. Bauer is represented by Marc Gann, Esq.