Mineola, NY - July 21, 2014 - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the prison sentencing of a Valley Stream man for causing the death of 46-year-old Christopher DeCrescito in a high-speed crash in February 2013.
Brian Daly, 26, was sentenced by Nassau County Court Judge Angelo Delligatti to 12 years in prison without parole and five years of post-release supervision. Daly pleaded guilty in March to Depraved Indifference Assault in the 1st Degree (a B violent felony), Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree (a C felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), and Driving While Intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor). As part of his plea, Daly waived his right to appeal today’s sentence.
“Mrs. DeCrescito’s statement in court today said it all when she said that her husband ‘died a terrible death because of Brian Daly’s dangerous conduct and complete disregard for anything and anyone besides himself’,” DA Rice said. “Nothing will give the DeCrescito family closure, but today’s prison sentence ensures that the defendant will pay for his crimes for a significant length of time. I hope that other drivers will learn from this tragedy.”
DA Rice said that Daly was drunk and high on cocaine when he broadsided a minivan driven by Christopher DeCrescito at the intersection of Franklin Ave. and Corona Ave. in Franklin Square on Feb. 27, 2013 at approximately 9:15 p.m. Daly was going over 70 miles per hour at the time of the crash in a 30 mile-per-hour zone, and ran several red lights prior to the crash, including driving around other cars that had stopped for the light. At the final intersection, he continued accelerating through the steady red signal and struck the victim’s minivan in the driver’s door, killing him. Daly was also found to be possession of more than a half ounce of cocaine at that time. He was arrested by the Nassau County Police immediately after the collision.
The victim had been driving to his home in Franklin Square at the time of the incident. He left behind his wife and their three children aged 12, 9, and 8.
Assistant District Attorneys Michael Bushwack and Gene Kang of DA Rice’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau are prosecuting the case. Daly is represented by Bruce Barket, Esq.