Woman Indicted After Fatal DWI Crash In Nassau: DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Bethpage woman was indicted on Wednesday on aggravated vehicular homicide for a drunken head-on collision that killed a man in June, prosecutors said.

Cheryl Bergenstock, 64, was also arraigned Wednesday on charges that include first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, aggravated driving while intoxicated, two counts of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

Bergenstock pleaded not guilty, and remained out on $200,000 bond, but was asked to surrender her passport, was required to wear an electronic ankle monitor, and a curfew was set, prosecutors said.

She is due back in court on November 15. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison.

"This defendant was allegedly more than twice the legal limit for alcohol when she crossed into 82-year-old Alan Goldsand’s path and crashed head-on into his vehicle," Donnelly said. "Though Alan survived the initial crash, the injuries he suffered were too great and he tragically died in the hospital the following day."

DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on June 28, Bergenstock was driving her vehicle northbound on Round Swamp Road in Bethpage when she collided head-on with a vehicle traveling southbound, driven by Goldsand.

An analysis of the event data recorder in Bergenstock’s vehicle indicated that she was allegedly driving 78 miles per hour in a 40 mile-per-hour zone five seconds before crossing over a double yellow line and striking Goldsand’s vehicle in his lane, Donnelly said.

"Speeding and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are not just illegal, they are often a deadly combination. Our thoughts are with Alan’s family as we pursue justice for this senseless and entirely preventable tragedy." Donnelly said.