Nassau Man Pleads Guilty To Fatal DWI Crash

MASSAPEQUA, NY — A Massapequa man pleaded guilty today to charges relating to a 2020 drunk driving crash that killed a 74-year-old woman.

John Cappello, 31, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault. He is due back in court for sentencing on July 6, and is expected to be sentenced to seven to 15 years in prison.

“A devastating scene of twisted metal was left in the wake of this fatal head-on collision that took a woman’s life,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “The defendant was highly intoxicated – nearly three times the legal limit – when he veered into oncoming traffic on Stewart Avenue that day. Our thoughts are with the family of Manuela Brugueras as they continue to heal from this tragedy.”

According to Donnelly, at 10:39 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2020, Cappello was driving a Mistubishi SUV on Stewart Avenue, near Linden Boulevard, in Bethpage. He crossed into oncoming traffic and drove head-on into a Nissan SUV being driven by 74-year-old Manuela Brugueras.

Brugueras was rushed to Saint Joseph's Hospital in Bethpage, where she was pronounced dead.

Officers found hypodermic needles and an open pint-sized bottle of vodka in Cappello's car. He was arrested at the scene and taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.