By Marlyn Montilla
07 Apr 2024, 16:59 PM EDT
A man who admitted to driving 119 mph on the Long Island Expressway in 2022 while under the influence of alcohol and drugs before plowing into the back of another car, killing a 9-year-old boy, He was sentenced to between 4.5 and 13.5 years in prison, said county District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
Identified as Travis Dickson, 32, pleaded guilty in February of this year to: second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated. of intoxication by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, reckless driving and aggravated operation of a motor vehicle without a license.
Although the man was sentenced to 4.5 and 13.5 years in prison, the prosecution was asking for between 5 and 15 years behind bars, the maximum penalty allowed by law, NBC New York reported.
“As this case clearly illustrates, drunk and drug-impaired drivers are a danger to our communities and often cause crashes that prove fatal to innocent victims,” said District Attorney Tierney.
“A child lost his life due to the selfish actions of the defendant. I hope this prison sentence provides a small degree of comfort to the victim’s family who are no doubt still mourning the loss of him.”
On August 22, 2022, at approximately 1:49 a.m., Dickson was driving a 2018 BMW 540i heading west on the Long Island Expressway at 119 mph, intoxicated and having smoked marijuana, before crashing into the from behind a 2019 Toyota Corolla. Inside was Ángel Salas, 9 years old, restrained in a booster seat, and his father was driving the vehicle.
The minor was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was in critical condition.
His father was taken to the same medical center to receive treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Two days later, doctors determined that the infant was brain dead and subsequently removed him from life support after arranging to donate his organs.
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