Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Laurelton man was arraigned today for a November 2022 high-speed crash on the Southern State Parkway that propelled both vehicles onto the shoulder of the highway and killed three victims.
Matthew Whyte, 28, was arraigned today before Judge Christopher Quinn on grand jury indictment charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a C felony); three counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); three counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D felony); Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor); and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor).
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, and $400,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on December 12, 2023. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.
“The defendant’s alleged deadly actions took place before 9:00 in the evening, when countless other cars – and possible victims – were on the road,” DA Donnelly said. “This selfish, dangerous behavior on our roads puts us all at risk and must stop. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute such criminal actions.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on November 5, 2022, at approximately 8:56 p.m., 18-year-old Ciara Hare was driving her 2004 Honda Civic eastbound on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 32 (Route 110, Broadway) with passengers 18-year-old Florence Oprisan and 22-year-old Jean Marc Miller.
At approximately the same time, Matthew Whyte was driving his 2018 Subaru WRX in the same direction near the exit, allegedly at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of lanes of traffic and while impaired by marijuana. An unapprehended individual in a third vehicle was also speeding, and driving recklessly, and appeared to be racing Whyte.
Whyte crashed into Hare’s vehicle, forcing the vehicle off the roadway and into a traffic camera pole on the right shoulder of the parkway. Whyte’s vehicle also left the roadway, overturned, and landed in the wooded shoulder of the parkway a short distance away. The third unidentified vehicle did not crash and drove away.
Both vehicles were severely damaged in the crash. Whyte sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital.
Hare suffered extensive injuries and was trapped in the driver’s seat of her vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 9:20 p.m.
Miller was ejected from the vehicle and suffered extensive injuries. He succumbed to his injuries on November 11, 2022, at approximately 2:46 a.m. at Nassau University Medical Center.
Oprisan was partially ejected through the front windshield and suffered life threatening injuries. She was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at approximately 2:59 a.m. on November 11, 2022.
According to the event data recorder from Whyte’s vehicle, the defendant was allegedly driving approximately 93 miles per hour five seconds before he struck the victim vehicle.
The defendant surrendered to the New York State Police on December 7, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Tara DePalo and Nicole Vota of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by Victor Knapp, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
