TWO TEENS ARRESTED FOR THEIR ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN FATAL 2021 SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY CRASH

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrest of two teens for their involvement in the 2021 crash on the Southern State Parkway in North Babylon that killed a 75-year-old Holbrook man.

“It is alleged that these defendants recklessly sped through the parkway with vehicles that did not belong to them without considering the laws they were breaking and the lives they put at risk including their own,” said Tierney. “This was a senseless crime that took the life of a husband, a father and grandfather for no good reason. We look forward to bringing those responsible to justice.”  

DA Tierney thanked the New York State Police and the Suffolk County Police Department for their assistance in this case.

On July 12, 2021, Defendant 1, a then 16-year-old minor, was allegedly driving a stolen Jeep Cherokee eastbound on the Southern State Parkway.  Defendant 2, a then 15-year-old minor, was allegedly driving a stolen Range Rover behind Defendant 1. Defendant 1 was driving erratically and recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic without signaling and at high rate speed well in excess of the posted 55 mph speed limit, going over to at least 100 mph.  As he continued to drive, Defendant 1 cut between two cars, driving on the dotted white line (between one car in the center lane and one car in the right lane).  After navigating between those two cars, the Range Rover, allegedly driven by Defendant 2, attempted to do the same, but collided with the two victim’s cars in the center and right lane.  One of the victim’s cars collided into the center median and the driver sustained a laceration to his head requiring staples. 

The victim car in the right lane flipped and crashed, killing the driver, Richard Riggs, age 75.  Defendant 1 allegedly turned the Jeep Cherokee around, drove westbound on the eastbound shoulder of the Southern State Parkway and drove back to the crash site.  He ultimately picked up Defendant 2 and another occupant in the stolen Range Rover and fled the scene.  Later that day, Defendant 1 was allegedly involved in another motor vehicle crash in Bay Shore where he went through a stop sign, struck another car and fled the scene on foot.  The driver of that other car sustained minor injuries.  DNA analysis assisted in the investigation linking Defendant 1 to the crimes.

This morning, New York State Police troopers attempted to arrest Defendant 1 in Westchester at a juvenile detention center where he was being held on another crime.  Defendant 1 jumped out of a window and fled on foot from the facility.  He was eventually tracked down sometime later in the morning by New York State Police troopers who were able to track him down in a backyard residence and take him into custody.

Defendant 1 was arraigned today in front of Suffolk County Court Judge Karen Kerr and is being held on $500,000 cash bail, $750,000 secured bond or $1 million partially secured bond. He represented by Bill Sammis. He is due back in court April 6.  Because he was 15 years-old at the time of the alleged crime, Defendant 2 was arraigned in Family Court by the County Attorney’s Office. Both are being charged with Second Degree Manslaughter, Second Degree Assault and Third Degree Criminal Possession of Stolen of Stolen Property.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jacob Delauter and Assistant District Attorney Maggie Bopp of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.

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Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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