Man sentenced for crash that killed Oceanside man

Vito Errico, of Oceanside, was killed in the accident.

Courtesy GoFundMe.com

A Freeport man was sentenced to six to 18 years in prison on Monday for charges related to a car crash on the Southern State Parkway last year that killed an Oceanside man.

Last April 17, at approximately 3:40 a.m., Vito Errico, 22, was one of four occupants of a 2004 Acura who were returning from New York City, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

The driver, Jonathan Sobrane, 38, was traveling at speeds of at least 90 mph, weaving across three lanes of traffic and driving in exit and entrance ramps to pass other motorists, Singas added. As the defendant changed lanes just west of exit 17, he clipped the back of a 2006 Toyota Highlander travelling in the same direction. The collision caused Sobrane’s car to spin off the road, hit trees and uproot a light pole.

Errico was ejected from the car’s front passenger seat, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other passengers suffered broken bones.

Toxicology tests had revealed that Sobrane, who was arrested at the scene by New York State Police, was impaired by drugs during the accident.

Singas had recommended a sentence of 8 1/3 years to 25 years after Sobrane pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of second-degree assault and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol on March 28 before Acting Supreme Court Justice Helene Gugerty.

“It is unimaginable that drivers like Sobrane continue to risk the lives of their passengers and everyone else on our roads with such wildly reckless and dangerous behavior,” Singas said in a statement. “Other reckless drivers should be on notice that Nassau County will not tolerate this threat to public safety. Like Sobrane, my office will hold you to the highest charges the law allows.”