MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Massapequa man has pleaded guilty to the highest charge of Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree for the April 2017 crash that killed an elderly Melville couple.
John Hartwig, 63, pleaded guilty today before Judge Robert Bogle to Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a C felony) and two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor). The defendant is due back in court March 13 and is expected to be sentenced to 3-1/2 to 10-1/2 years in prison.
“This defendant admitted to drinking 10 beers at a bar before getting behind the wheel around 8 p.m. and he stole the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Glickman who were simply coming from dinner,” DA Singas said. “The defendant's criminal actions have caused the Glickman family an unspeakable loss.”
DA Singas said on April 22, 2017 at 8:10pm, the defendant was driving his 2015 white Ford Explorer eastbound on Merrick Road in Massapequa when he struck and killed two pedestrians crossing the street, 77-year-old Melvyn Glickman and his wife 77-year-old Barbara Glickman.
The Glickman’s were walking toward their car and had just finished dinner with their family at a nearby restaurant when they were struck. Following the collision, the defendant registered a .13% blood alcohol concentration and later admitted to drinking 10 beers at the bar he owns, McQuade’s in Lynbrook. The defendant stated he was driving home from the bar at the time of the crash.
The defendant was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department after the incident.
Deputy Chief of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau Michael Bushwack and Assistant District Attorney Alexander DePalo are prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by William Petrillo, Esq.
###