Drag Racing May Have Led To Deadly Syosset Crash

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Police on Long Island have charged a man with vehicular homicide after they said he was involved in a head-on collision Sunday in Syosset.

According to authorities, 32-year-old Everardo Nieto was drunk when his Ford dump truck crossed into the opposite lane on Jericho Turnpike and smashed into a Mercedes. Myron Jacobs, 86, a passenger in that car, was killed while his 84-year-old wife Lucille, the driver, remained in critical condition on Monday night, CBS 2's Sean Hennessey reported.

A witness told police it appeared as though two trucks were drag racing, Detective Lt. Kevin Smith said Monday.

"When the light turned green...both trucks took off at an accelerate speed," Smith said citing the witness.

Nieto, of the Bronx, was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital. His passenger, a 63-year-old man, was listed in critical condition.

"Obviously we're looking at a high rate of speed being a cause in addition to intoxication and just pure reckless and disregard for everyone else who was out there driving," Smith said.

Police spent Monday looking at video from surveillance cameras in the area in the hope of recreating the accident. They also hope to determine the identity of the person driving the second truck, who was allegedly drag racing with Nieto.

Nieto also faces other charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, reckless driving and driving while intoxicated.