An East Setauket man pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated vehicular assault and related charges after prosecutors said he caused a three-vehicle crash on the Long Island Expressway that injured four people, including a woman who permanently lost sight in one eye.
Matthew Sheehy, 48, admitted to charges stemming from a Nov. 15, 2024 crash between Exits 62 and 63 on the eastbound Long Island Expressway, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney’s office.
Prosecutors said Sheehy was driving a 2022 Ram pickup truck at a high rate of speed at about 12:21 a.m., weaving in and out of lanes before veering onto the right shoulder and striking a disabled 2010 Chrysler Town & Country minivan with one person inside.
The impact pushed the Chrysler into the left travel lane, where it was hit by a 2018 Honda CR-V carrying three people, prosecutors said.
One passenger in the Honda suffered serious injuries, including a skull fracture, brain bleed and permanent loss of eyesight in one eye. The other occupants in the Honda and Chrysler also suffered injuries that required medical treatment.
Sheehy was taken to a hospital and arrested after authorities determined he was intoxicated by alcohol and impaired by drugs, prosecutors said.
On May 20, Sheehy pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas to one count of aggravated vehicular assault, a Class C felony; one count of driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony; and three counts of third-degree assault, Class A misdemeanors.
He is due back in court June 30 and is expected to be sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison.
Photo: SCDA
