Manslaughter Charges Dropped for Babylon Drag Racer

A Babylon Village man charged with manslaughter and assault after a deadly 2009 drag race had his charges dismissed on Friday.

According to Newsday, Michael Fredericks, 24, of Babylon Village, had previously been charged with 2nd degree manslaughter, assault and other various charges after an alleged drag race in Copiague on July 26, 2009.

According to Suffolk Police and prosecutors, Fredericks and another man, Damian Dudkiewicz, 28, of Lindenhurst, were racing their cars in Copiague when Dudkiewicz swerved to avoid another car, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a minivan coming the other way on Montauk Highway.

Three passengers in Dudkiewicz' vehicle were killed during the collision: Grzegorz Osko, 29, and his wife Kamila, 26, along with Dudkiewicz' pregnant fiancee, Magda Siwik, 30, all of Lindenhurst. One passenger in the minivan was killed: Teresa Zuardo, 69, of Brooklyn.

Dudkiewicz was acquitted of all charges in November after an eight-week trial, leaving the charges against Fredericks in limbo.

"I was pleased the court dismissed all the serious charges," Fredericks' attorney Stephen Civardi told Newsday. "The acquittal of Mr. Dudkiewicz established there was never a drag race. Michael had come forward as a witness and should never have been charged."

In exchange for the dismissed charges, Fredericks did plead guilty to disorderly conduct, a noncriminal violation.