Drunk driver jingled keys at bar patrons begging him not to drive before speeding off and killing Nassau County cop: DA
The boozed-up driver who allegedly killed a Nassau County police officer in late January arrogantly dangled his keys at bar patrons begging him not to drive — then got behind the wheel anyway, prosecutors revealed.
Matthew Smith, 20, was allegedly leaving James Joyce bar in Patchogue after a night of binge drinking when he ignored the warnings he was too drunk to drive and made the mocking gesture before speeding off and killing Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, prosecutors revealed.
“Before leaving the bar in Patchogue, [Smith] was warned by multiple people not to drive,” Assistant District Attorney Emma Richards revealed to the Suffolk County court on Friday, where Smith pleaded not guilty to a dozen new upgraded charges.
“Despite this warning, the defendant dangled his keys in front of multiple people’s faces at the bar and drove anyway,” Richards said about Smith, whose new laundry list of charges included aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter and aggravated vehicular assault.
He had previously pleaded not guilty to just one count of driving while intoxicated, but was held on $1 million bail in anticipation of a grand jury indicting Smith on much higher charges, which they did on Friday.
The new indictment includes 19 total charges which could land Smith in prison from anywhere between eight years to the rest of his life if convicted on the top count.
Smith had a blood alcohol content of .20% — more than twice the legal limit — when he left the bar. He wound up speeding and swerving through local streets, driving over 70 mph in a 30 mph zone and flooring it through a “steady” red light just after 6 a.m. when he killed Espinosa, prosecutors said.
The officer’s car was hit so violently that it flipped upside down in the collision, leaving the 42-year-old cop hanging inverted inside the wreckage for more than 30 minutes as first responders worked to free her, prosecutors detailed.
His passenger, John Andali, had just met Smith less than an hour before the crash in a late-night taco spot across the street from the bar when the pair sparked a quick friendship. After leaving the bar, they tried to drive to Jake’s 58 casino, but found it closed, prosecutors detailed. Smith then headed off and would soon hit Espinosa.
Andali, who later told police Smith was acting “crazy,” posted videos on social media just 30 minutes before the crash that showed Smith behind the wheel of the truck hitting speeds of up to 125 mph, blowing stop signs and recklessly swerving around cars at high speeds on their way to the casino.
“[Smith] turned the roads of Suffolk County into his own personal raceway,” Emma Richards, the Assistant District Attorney prosecuting Smith, previously said.
