Mattituck Man Indicted for Allegedly Leaving Scene of Fatal Crash while Impaired by Fentanyl

DA SINI: MATTITUCK MAN INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY LEAVING THE SCENE OF FATAL CRASH WHILE IMPAIRED BY FENTANYL

(CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the unsealing of an 11-count indictment against a Mattituck man for allegedly leaving the scene of a fatal crash with a pedestrian while driving while impaired by fentanyl.

 “Drugged driving is often deadly, as it was in this case,” District Attorney Sini said. “We lost a beloved member of our community and nothing will bring him back. We will seek justice in this case.”

Keith Clancy, 32, of Mattituck, is charged with two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a B felony; Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a C felony; Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a D felony; Leaving the Scene of an Accident Without Reporting, a D felony; Tampering with Physical Evidence, an E felony; Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an E felony; Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree, an E felony; Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, an A misdemeanor; Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, an A misdemeanor; and Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor.

At approximately 12:21 p.m. on July 14, Clancy was driving a 2014 Nissan sedan southbound on Lake Avenue in St. James when he left his lane, crossing onto the shoulder of the road and striking a pedestrian who was jogging northbound.

The pedestrian, Michael McDermott, 37, of Smithtown, was thrown approximately 100 feet from the point of impact. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. McDermott was employed as a teacher and coach with the Kings Park School District.

Clancy allegedly left the scene of the crash. He was apprehended by Suffolk County Police officers at approximately 12:49 p.m. while traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway near exit 69 in Manorville.

Clancy’s vehicle was severely damaged with a large hole in its windshield and blood on both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was also missing its front license plate, which was recovered at the scene of the crash.

A blood test taken approximately three and one-half hours after the crash revealed a high level of fentanyl in Clancy’s blood. A search warrant executed on Clancy’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of a glassine envelope of fentanyl.

Clancy was arraigned on the indictment today in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho. Bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. He is due back in court on September 10.

If convicted of the top count, Clancy faces a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Curtin, of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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