Suffolk Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With Fatal 2022 DWI Crash: DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Selden man has pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in connection with a drunken driving crash that killed a passenger in his car last year, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Friday.

At around 2:14 a.m. on Aug. 15, Anthony Milano, 31, was driving at a high rate of speed on Clearview Avenue in Selden when he lost control of the vehicle, causing him to crash into a parked car, and then a tree, prosecutors said.

Milano’s rear passenger, Paige Swiecicki, 30, of Selden, died due to injuries sustained from the crash, and his front passenger, a 30-year-old Selden man, sustained serious physical injuries and was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment, according to prosecutors.

During the initial investigation, Milano admitted to drinking alcohol before driving, and consented to a blood test which revealed his blood alcohol concentration was .09 percent, prosecutors said.

A warrant for Milano’s blood was later obtained and his blood was drawn upon his admission to Stony Brook University Hospital, prosecutors said, adding that it revealed his blood alcohol concentration was .11 percent.

An analysis of Milano’s vehicle’s black box revealed he was driving 78 miles per hour just seconds before the crash, prosecutors said.

“This defendant’s decision to drink and then drive killed one person and seriously injured another,” Tierney said. “I urge everyone to drive safely and call a cab or schedule a car service if you have consumed any alcohol.”

Milano also pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.

He is due back in court for sentencing on Dec. 7.

In a statement to Patch, his attorney, Edward Palermo of Hauppauge, said, “Anthony accepted responsibility today for a tragic mistake.”

"Four friends went together to a concert in Manhattan and Anthony’s decision to drive after consuming alcohol led to the death of one close friend and serious injury to another,” he said. “Anthony suffers everyday with the devastating effect his actions caused Paige and those who loved her.”