Suffolk County police are taking strict measures against drunk driving, particularly during holidays and summers, by reintroducing sobriety checkpoints. Motorists under the influence of alcohol should be aware of the consequences.
According to Deputy Commissioner Kevin Catalina of the Suffolk County Police Department, this week typically sees an increase in fatalities resulting from accidents.
A drunk driver, who is a repeat offender, allegedly crashed into a well-known nail salon in Deer Park, resulting in a tragic incident that devastated the entire community. The heartbreaking incident claimed the lives of four people, including an off-duty NYPD Officer named Emilia Rennhack, who happened to be a customer at the salon. The community is still mourning their loss.
As a detective in the 102 Precinct in Queens, Rennhack’s husband worked alongside her.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed his devastation over the unfortunate incident, stating that the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving, especially as we approach the upcoming July 4th weekend. “It’s just a devastating story,” he said, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
The Nassau County Police Department echoed similar sentiments and revealed that they have already conducted investigations on six instances of DWI-related deaths in the current year.
During the year 2023, the Nassau police department received a total of 13 responses. One of these responses involved a tragic incident in East Massapequa on the Sunrise Highway where a Uniondale family of four lost their lives. The family consisted of a father, his two young children, and his 6-year-old step-granddaughter. It was a devastating event that left the entire community in mourning.
“It’s a terrible feeling to have to constantly explain how my daughter passed away and why she’s no longer with us,” shared Divina Hamilton, mother of one of the victims.
Michael DeAngelo, a 33-year-old resident of Lindenhurst, was under the influence of cocaine and fentanyl and driving at a breakneck speed of 120 mph when he collided with the family. The catastrophic incident resulted in DeAngelo pleading guilty to the charges and receiving a prison sentence of seven to 21 years.
The concerns of drunk driving during the upcoming holiday were addressed by Kevin Smith, the 1st Deputy Police Commissioner at the Nassau County Police Department.
Smith emphasized that individuals who choose to go out should also make a conscious decision to act responsibly on their way home, particularly as they may be frequenting locations where alcohol consumption is prevalent. “If you are going out, you made a choice to go out,” he stated. “Make a choice to do the right thing on the way home because we are going to be out at locations where people heavily drink.”
According to officials, Long Island experienced its deadliest year in 2022, with a total of 245 fatalities resulting from crashes. Shockingly, Suffolk County alone accounted for 164 of these deaths.
Across New York State, DWIs accounted for one-third of all crashes, which is the highest percentage recorded.
