Suffolk Man Indicted For Fatal Fentanyl-Impaired Crash: Prosecutors

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Farmingville man has been indicted in connection with his driving high on Fentanyl and causing a three-car crash that claimed the life of a 22-year-old Centereach man and injured his aunt and another driver back in March, Suffolk prosecutors said.

Christopher Guzman, 40, faces upgraded charges, including manslaughter and vehicular assault, for driving while impaired by fentanyl and causing the crash that killed Timothy Carpenter on March 9.

District Attorney Ray Tierney said that when Guzman was behind the wheel, he had fentanyl in his system, "one of the deadliest drugs in America, which has affected our communities here in Suffolk County."

"Sadly, the defendant’s alleged use of fentanyl in this case forever changed the life of an innocent victim," he said. "The tragic death of 22-year-old Timothy Carpenter is yet another sad reminder of the consequences of driving while impaired by drugs. Swift legislative action needs to be taken to strengthen our [Driving While Intoxicated] laws as well as increase the penalties for fentanyl -related crimes.”

Guzman was driving a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado westbound on Middle Country Road in Centereach when it crossed over the double yellow lines and sideswiped a 2011 Toyota Camry that was in the eastbound lanes, prosecutors said.

The impact caused the Camry, which was driven by a 66-year-old woman, to spin out of control, prosecutors said, adding that Guzman’s vehicle then crossed over into the eastbound lanes of traffic, and crashed into a 2012 Ford Escape driven by Carpenter's 55-year-old aunt.

Both Carpenter and his aunt were taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital, but he later died. Guzman and the other driver were also transported to Stony Brook where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers observed Guzman exhibiting signs that he was impaired by drugs while he was at the hospital, according to prosecutors.

Guzman has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter, and aggravated vehicular assault. He also faces two counts of second-degree assault, and vehicular assault, as well as one count of driving while ability impaired by drugs and reckless driving.

Guzman was ordered held on $75,000 cash, $150,000 bond, $750,000 partially-secured bond, and his license was suspended.

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Anthony LaPinta of Hauppauge, for comment.

Maureen Mullarkey contributed additional reporting to this story.