William Byrus was driving while high on a combination of marijuana and Xanax when he crashed in Long Beach; his female passenger suffered serious physical injuries
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce A. Smith announced that an East Setauket man was sentenced to up to six years in prison for driving under the influence of multiple drugs and at excessive speeds, resulting in a single-car crash that left his female passenger seriously injured.
William Byrus, 29, of East Setauket, pled guilty on September 28, 2021 before Judge Caryn Fink to aggravated vehicular assault (a C felony); assault in the second degree (a D violent felony); driving while impaired by the combined influence of drugs (an E felony); and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree (an E felony). Byrus was sentenced on December 1, 2021 to 3-1/2 to six years in prison.
“While high on a cocktail of marijuana and Xanax, this defendant drove dangerously fast and careened off the road and into a storefront, leaving his passenger with life-threatening injuries,” said Acting DA Smith. “Drugged driving is a serious offense with dire consequences and Byrus will spend years behind bars for his egregiously reckless decisions.”
Acting DA Smith said on September 12, 2020 at approximately 12:37 a.m., the defendant drove at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour while high on marijuana and Xanax when he lost control of a 2017 Chevy Traverse, left the roadway, and crashed into a tree and storefront on West Park Avenue in Long Beach.
The crash seriously injured his 26-year-old female passenger who suffered a brain bleed and multiple spinal fractures.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Katie Zizza and Assistant District Attorney Kally Konstantinidis of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by Dennis Lemke, Esq.
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