A 21-year-old Hauppauge man was sentenced Monday to 7⅓ to 22 years in prison for an intoxicated-driving crash that killed Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa and seriously injured his passenger.
Matthew Smith received the prison sentence July 20 after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated and other charges, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Smith was also required to forfeit the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck he was driving at the time of the deadly crash.
The collision happened Jan. 31, 2026, after Smith and his passenger left Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel at approximately 6:07 a.m., prosecutors said. Smith had been drinking alcohol in Patchogue before arriving at the casino.
Smith drove through a red light at approximately 70 mph in an area with a posted speed limit of 30 mph and struck a vehicle driven by Espinosa, according to court documents and Smith’s admissions during his guilty plea.
Espinosa, a Nassau County police officer, was on her way to work when the crash occurred.
She was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Smith’s passenger was also transported to Stony Brook University Hospital and treated for serious injuries, including pelvic and spinal fractures and a severe head laceration.
A chemical test determined that Smith had a blood alcohol concentration of .20, more than twice the legal limit, prosecutors said. Investigators also found a bottle of Bacardi rum and a shot glass inside the Silverado.
“No sentence can restore what was taken from Officer Espinosa’s loved ones, but today this defendant begins paying the price for his conduct,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.
Tierney said Smith was intoxicated, speeding and driving a roughly 5,000-pound pickup truck when he caused the crash that killed Espinosa.
Smith pleaded guilty June 11 before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei to two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and several manslaughter, assault and vehicular assault charges.
He also pleaded guilty to aggravated driving while intoxicated, two counts of driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and multiple traffic infractions.
Smith was represented by attorney Anthony LaPinta.
The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Emma Richards and Laura Newcombe of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crime Bureau.
The investigation was conducted by Suffolk County Police Detective Martin Lupo of the department’s Major Case Unit.
Photo: SCDA
