Posted on: February 21, 2025 07:00 AM

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Queens Man Pleads Guilty To High Speed Crash That Killed 3 Nassau DA

A Queens man pleaded guilty on Thursday in connection to a high-speed crash on the Southern State Parkway that killed three people in 2022, the Nassau County District Attorney said.

Matthew Whyte, 29, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of second-degree assault and driving while ability impaired by drugs, prosecutors said.

He is scheduled for sentencing on April 24 and is expected to get 4 1/2 to 13 1/2 years in prison, D.A. Anne Donnelly said.

"Driving at such a high rate of speed poses an immense risk to others who share the road. Doing so while under the influence of drugs is enormously irresponsible and can often result in deadly consequences."

On the evening of November 5, 2022, 18-year-old Ciara Hare was driving her 2004 Honda Civic eastbound on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 32 (Route 110, Broadway) with 18-year-old Florence Oprisan and 22-year-old Jean Marc Miller.

At approximately the same time, Whyte was driving his 2018 Subaru WRX in the same direction near the exit, at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of lanes of traffic and while impaired by marijuana, prosecutors said.

Hare suffered extensive injuries and was trapped in the driver’s seat of her vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Miller was ejected from the vehicle and succumbed to his injuries six days later.