A 63-year-old West Islip man has been indicted on manslaughter and other charges after prosecutors said he struck and killed a pedestrian on the Robert Moses Causeway while impaired by alcohol and drugs, drove away and did not call 911 until roughly half an hour later.
Stephen Aylward was indicted in connection with the June 25 crash that killed Yusuf Gul, 27, of Bay Shore, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
Prosecutors said Aylward was driving a 2012 Jeep Liberty southbound on the Robert Moses Causeway near Sunrise Highway at approximately 1:30 p.m. while under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.
Aylward allegedly veered off the roadway just south of exit RM 2W-E and struck Gul, who was walking along the shoulder. Gul was later pronounced dead.
Rather than stopping, prosecutors said Aylward continued southbound and drove to his West Islip home, arriving at approximately 1:35 p.m.
Aylward allegedly returned to the crash scene before going home again at approximately 2 p.m. He called 911 at 2:03 p.m., roughly 30 minutes after the collision, prosecutors said.
New York State Police responded to Aylward’s home and arrested him.
Aylward was arraigned Sept. 18 before Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in death, two counts of driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs and failure to maintain lane.
Goglas ordered Aylward held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $2.5 million partially secured bond. His driver’s license was also suspended while the case is pending.
Aylward is due back in court Oct. 16. He faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Newcombe of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crime Bureau. The investigation was conducted by New York State Police Investigator Marcus Rivera.
Aylward is represented by attorney Luigi Belcastro.
The charges are accusations. Aylward is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
