Accused Drunken Driver In Triple Fatal LI Crash Back In Court Friday

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — The man accused of killing three women in a drunken-driving crash on Jericho Turnpike is due back in court on Friday.

Dante Lennon, 22, of Freeport, is still recovering from his injuries at a hospital, but expects to hear whether a grand jury will indict him, according to his lawyer.

"If the grand jury does not take action by tomorrow, then he would have to be released on his own recognizance — no bail," said Robert Gottlieb, who leads the Manhattan-based firm Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates. "He cannot be detained on a felony beyond tomorrow."

Lennon has been charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, and driving while intoxicated in a crash that killed three on Saturday.

In an 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."

Nassau County police said Lennon was driving a 2012 Mercedes-Benz sedan when he T-boned a 2010 Lincoln Town Car on Jericho Turnpike Saturday night. The victims, who were all passengers in the Lincoln, had just left a Sweet 16 party at the Inn at New Hyde Park when the crash happened.

Authorities have identified the three women killed in the crash 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.

Lu was the mother of the host and Hua was the host's aunt, according to police. Nguyen was the host's cousin. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Lincoln and his two other passengers were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Authorities have identified them as a 73-year-old man, a 67-year-old man, and a 42-year-old man. The oldest patient, who suffered from neck and back pain, has been discharged from the hospital. The 67-year-old man fractured his clavicle while the 42-year-old man fractured his ribs. They both remain in the hospital, according to police.

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.

In the complaint, police officers said Lennon had glassy, bloodshot eyes and admitted to drinking alcohol before the crash.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.