Sentencing Tuesday for Queens Man Responsible for Triple-Fatal Southern State Crash

LongIsland.com

Oniel Sharpe Jr., 26, convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter in the second degree, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and tampering with evidence.

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Oniel Sharpe Jr., 26, of Queens, was convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide and will be sentenced in Central Islip on 4/18.

Photo by: Suffolk County Police Department

Suffolk County, NY - April 17, 2017 - A Queens man convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges for causing the fiery collision on the Southern State Parkway in 2015 that killed a 37 year old father and his two children will be sentenced in Central Islip tomorrow (4/18) afternoon, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.
 
After a day and a half of deliberations, a jury on February 2 convicted Oniel Sharpe Jr., 26, of aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter in the second degree, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and tampering with evidence.
 
Sharpe was the driver of the BMW SUV that rear-ended the Queens family’s Toyota RAV4 causing it to burst into flames at 1:30 on the morning of Sunday July 12, 2015 near exit 41 South of the Southern State Parkway. At trial, the jury heard testimony from motorists who said Sharpe was weaving in and out of traffic at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. Video evidence showed the defendant at the crash scene reaching into the vehicle he was driving to retrieve a nearly empty bottle of Patrón Tequila. The footage showed Sharpe heave the bottle into the woods. State Police investigators recovered the evidence.
 
Sharpe left the scene as flames consumed the victims’ vehicle, killing Ancio Ostane and his children, 8-year-old Andy and 4-year-old Sephora.  The wife and mother of the victims, Lucnie Bouaz-Ostane, escaped the burning vehicle with minor injuries.
 
Sharpe disappeared for four hours until his arrest by State Police at the home of the BMW's registered owner, his mother, in Rockville Centre.
 
District Attorney Spota said the office will recommend maximum prison time for the defendant, between 12 to 36 years, if Sharpe is sentenced to consecutive time.
 
Justice Camacho scheduled sentencing for 2:00 PM Tuesday (4/18) in the First District Courthouse (third floor) in Central Islip.
 
Sharpe still faces 23 other criminal charges, District Attorney Spota said, related to the discovery after the crash of 23 fraudulent credit cards found stashed in a container below the steering wheel of the BMW he was driving.