Crime & Safety
Charges Upgraded For LI Man Accused Of Killing 3 In Drunken Crash
Dante Lennon, 22, pleaded not guilty in a drunken-driving crash that killed three women as they were leaving a relative's Sweet 16 party.
NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A Freeport man was arraigned Monday on upgraded charges in a drunken-driving crash that killed three women leaving a relative's Sweet 16 party in New Hyde Park.
A grand jury has indicted 22-year-old Dante Lennon on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and second- and third-degree assault. His initial charges were three counts of vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, and driving while intoxicated.
The tragedy unfolded outside The Inn at New Hyde Park on May 21, 2022.
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It was supposed to be a night of celebration. But in a matter of hours, a girl's Sweet 16 party was overshadowed by the horrific crash, which killed her grandmother and two other relatives.
Lennon, who was driving east in a Mercedes Benz sedan, T-boned a Lincoln Town Car as it was leaving the catering hall on Jericho Turnpike, according to Nassau County police.
Find out what's happening in New Hyde Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A driver and five passengers were in the Lincoln Town Car. The three rear passengers, all females, were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have identified them as 66-year-old Marlene Lu, of Woodside, Queens, 68-year-old Ho Hua, also of Woodside, and 41-year-old Tu Nguyen, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.
Authorities said Lu was the mother of the host, Hua was the aunt of the host, and Nguyen was the cousin of the host.
The driver and remaining passengers survived and were taken to local hospitals for treatment, police said.
"It was supposed to be a day of celebration for a family and a young woman turning 16, but the tragic events of that evening will have a ripple effect for generations to come," said Nassau District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. "The defendant is accused of a dangerous combination of speed and intoxication when he allegedly barreled down Jericho Turnpike and t-boned a car carrying six family members. This is an extraordinary tragedy, and we will aggressively prosecute Dante Lennon for his alleged actions."
A felony complaint filed by prosecutors said Lennon had a preliminary breath test result of 0.088 percent, higher than the 0.08 percent legal limit.
Also in the complaint, police officers said Lennon had glassy, bloodshot eyes and admitted to drinking alcohol before the crash.
Robert Gottlieb, who leads the Manhattan-based firm Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates, is Lennon's attorney.
In a May interview with Patch, Gottlieb said Lennon "is a very good and decent young man who has never been in trouble before," adding that he is "distraught by what happened."
Despite that, Lennon has pleaded not guilty to his charges, according to the District Attorney's office. Bail has been set at $425,000 bond, $225,000 cash, or $425,000 partially secured bond at 10 percent, according to prosecutors.
If convicted on the top charge, Lennon faces up to 25 years in prison. He is due back in court on Sept. 13.
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