Teen Indicted In Farmingdale Drag Race Crash That Left 5 Dead, 2 Seriously Injured
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island teenager involved in a street race that led to a crash that killed five and injured two has been indicted on manslaughter and assault charges.
Cory Gloe of Farmingdale pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday in a Nassau County courtroom.
It was Mother's Day 2014 when five Farmingdale teenagers died after the car they were in slammed in to oncoming traffic.
Gloe challenged another driver -- his friend Tristan Reichle, 17, to a race, Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas said.
They were racing on Conklin Street in Farmingdale last May when Reichle lost control of his vehicle, crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with an SUV with two adults inside, Singas said.
Reichle and his four passengers were killed.
The driver and passenger in the SUV were seriously injured for which they have each undergone multiple surgeries and are still recovering, Singas said.
At the time, sources told CBS2 that some of the teens had been drinking before the accident, CBS2's Valerie Castro reported.
Prosecutors said Gloe left the scene of the accident in his own car and even though he didn't physically cause the crash, they believe he was at fault, Castro reported.
"Today's indictment is the result of an event that brought heartbreak to these families, the innocent victims who were injured, and the Farmingdale community since last May," Singas said. "Unfortunately nothing will alleviate the pain or bring back the lives lost in this senseless crash. We owe it to our kids and everyone on our roads to remember that speed and racing kill. As parents, grandparents and teachers we cannot emphasize enough to our kids that when you are old enough to drive a car, you are also old enough to be held responsible for your decisions behind the wheel."
The family members of the teenagers who were killed as well as Gloe's own family were at today's court hearing. They all declined to say anything after the indictment was handed down, Castro reported.
Gloe's attorney Stephen LaMagna insists his client will be acquitted, called the incident "unbelievably tragic,'' and noted Gloe's vehicle was not involved in the actual crash.
"My client did not cause this accident in anyway and in any form," LaMagna said.
"My client, his family, have been heartbroken as well as the rest of the community over what happened 9 months ago. Unfortunately many times in tragedies such as these, invariably the district attorney's office has a need to blame somebody , anybody whether or not that person was truly responsible for this tragedy."
Nassau County Court Judge Terence Murphy suspended Gloe's license and set bail at $50,000 cash or bond. Gloe is due back in court on Feb. 11.
If convicted of the top charge against him, Gloe faces a maximum of five to 15 years in prison.
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