Deepak Kumar pleaded guilty to indictment charges before trial was set to start in January
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a New Hyde Park man, who pleaded guilty to all 14 indictment charges related to a fatal crash in August 2014 which he killed a 55-year old man and injured the motorist’s wife and six-year old daughter, was sentenced to four years in prison today.
Deepak Kumar, 19, of New Hyde Park, pleaded guilty on January 19 before Supreme Court Justice Robert McDonald to charges of:
• Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony)
• Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree (a C felony)
• Aggravated Vehicular Assault (a C felony)
• Vehicular Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree (a D felony)
• Two counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree (a D violent felony)
• Vehicular Assault in the 2nd Degree (an E felony)
• Two counts of Assault in the 3rd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
• Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
• Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs and Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor)
• Driving While Ability Impaired-Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor)
• Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor)
• Driving a Motor Vehicle Without a Proper License (a violation)
Judge McDonald sentenced the defendant to a total of four years in prison. The District Attorney’s Office recommended a sentence of six years in prison on one charge to run concurrent to a period of three to nine years in prison on another charge.
“The violent death of Sir Pierre Antoine, the life-changing injuries to his wife and daughter and the damage caused to his family by his loss are a life sentence for them,” DA Singas said. “This was not an accident. It was a preventable crime by a young man who did not intend the outcome but did not take seriously the responsibility of driving. I hope that all parents of driving age teenagers will use this tragic case to speak to their kids about careful driving and how quickly you can take someone’s life and ruin your own.”
DA Singas said that on Aug. 19, 2014, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the defendant was operating a 2003 Toyota Camry at a high rate of speed when he ran a stop sign on Second Avenue and struck a 2012 Ford Fusion travelling southbound on Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park. Kumar had been drinking and smoking marijuana at the LIRR in New Hyde Park prior to the crash.
As a result of the crash, Antoine suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Marta Shawl-Antoine, and 6-year-old daughter, Soliana, suffered injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment.
The family was in town from California visiting relatives and were returning to a family member’s house from the hospital when the crash occurred.
Kumar was arrested later that night by the Nassau County Police Department.
Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Dellinger of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case. Kumar is represented by Michael DerGarabedian, Esq.