MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that Matthew Whyte, a 29-year-old man from Laurelton, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and several other charges for his involvement in a high-speed crash on the Southern State Parkway in November 2022, which resulted in the deaths of three victims.
Whyte pleaded guilty before Judge Christopher Quinn to the following charges:
Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a Class B felony)
Three counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class C felonies)
One count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class D felony)
Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor)
Whyte is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2025. The District Attorney’s Office is recommending a sentence of 7 to 21 years in prison.
District Attorney Donnelly remarked, “This defendant’s guilty plea cannot undo the devastating tragedy that took place along the Southern State Parkway over two years ago. 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. Our hearts go out to the families of Ciara, Florence, and Jean.”
The incident occurred on November 5, 2022, at approximately 8:56 p.m. Ciara Hare, 18, was driving her 2004 Honda Civic eastbound on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 32, accompanied by passengers Florence Oprisan, 18, and Jean Marc Miller, 22. At the same time, Whyte was driving his 2018 Subaru WRX at a high speed, weaving in and out of lanes, while impaired by marijuana. A third unidentified vehicle was also speeding and appeared to be racing Whyte.
Whyte crashed into Hare’s vehicle, forcing it off the road and into a traffic camera pole. His vehicle also left the road, overturned, and landed in a wooded area. The third vehicle involved did not crash and fled the scene.
Hare was pronounced dead at the scene, while Miller and Oprisan died from their injuries shortly after at Nassau University Medical Center. According to data from Whyte’s vehicle, he was traveling at 93 miles per hour just before the crash. A blood test taken after the accident revealed the presence of active marijuana in his system.
Whyte surrendered to the New York State Police on December 7, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Tara DePalo and Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicole Vota of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Michael Bushwack. The defendant is represented by Steve Raiser, Esq.
