James Ryan to stand trial for manslaughter on Wantagh Parkway

James Ryan, 45, of New Hyde Park will stand trial for the alleged drunken-driving crash that killed 19-year-old Matthew Scarpati of Dix Hills on the Wantagh State Parkway in the summer of 2009.

Ryan is charged with manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment in the second degree and reckless driving. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of all the charges against him and is due in court Jan. 7. He is represented by attorney Edward Gallison.

Police allege that Ryan lost control of his motorcycle as he drove more than 100 miles per hour northbound on the Wantagh State Parkway, skidding off the road and hitting and killing Scarpati as he changed his bicycle tire on a path alongside the parkway on July 20, 2009.

Following the incident, New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican from Merrick, and Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from North Merrick, reached out to Gov. David Paterson about installing a guardrail on the Wantagh Parkway after receiving a petition signed by thousands of people.

In October 2009, Paterson gave the green light for the state Department of Transportation to install the guardrail along the Wantagh Parkway bike path after meeting with Fuschillo, McDonough and the Scarpati family.

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