Limo Driver Charged In Horrific MV Crash

DA Tom Spota

By p.biancaniello

Many people have vivid memories of the horrific motor vehicle crash that took the lives of four young women in Cutchogue last July. The incident involved a group of eight women, four from our area, hiring a limo to visit the wineries on the east end.

Almost immediately after leaving a vineyard on Sound Avenue, the limousine in which they were traveling driven by Carlos Pino, was involved in a crash with a pickup truck. The truck was driven by Steven Romeo an east end businessman. Since the tragedy on July 18, 2015 there has been speculation about the cause of the crash: was it a faulty roadway? the pick-up truck driver? or the limousine driver or a combination?

Today District Attorney Thomas Spota, in a press conference at his Hauppauge office, placed the responsiblity for the accident on the limousine driver announcing the indictment of Carlos F. Pino.

DA Spota said, ” The person who is criminally responsible for the crash is Carlos Pino and Carlos Pino alone. Pino failed to take any precaution or action to make sure he could safely enter the westbound traffic lanes; he continued to attempt his U-turn without stopping.  Because of his actions, he failed to see the Jeep Liberty in front of him, or Mr. Romeo’s pickup converging on the intersection.”

At the press conference Spota thanked the NYS DOT’s expert accident reconstructionists who worked for five hours recreating the scene. The team used replacement vehicles which, with the exception of color, were identical to the vehicles involved in the accident.

DA Spota said the investigation turned up five additional witnesses who were present on the roadway the day of the crash. This led to a thorough understanding of what happened. 

exhibit showing obstructed viewAccording to the DA the limousine driver left the vineyard without waiting for a Jeep Liberty to turn off the road, even though the Jeep was obstructing his view, Pino did not stop or wait until he could see oncoming traffic. He just pulled out. Because of the presence of the Jeep, Mr. Romeo in the pick-up truck could not have seen the limo until he was about 200 feet from the limo. The investigation showed that Romeo tried to stop, but at 55 mph it would have been impossible. 

Spota said,”Mr Romeo had only 200 feet to react to the hazard he saw, and stop his vehicle. Traveling at 55 mph, it would have take 1.6 seconds to perceive the limo in his path, to realize he must apply his brakes, and then to begin braking. This would leave Romeo with even less distance, 129 feet, to avoid a crash - impossible for him to do.”

Calling it unavoidable, Spota acknowledged that Mr. Romeo had been drinking prior to the incident. “A perfectly sober Steven Romeo could not avoid this crash. An intoxicated Steven Romeo could not avoid this crash. It was simply unavoidable from Romeo’s perspective.”

The law, according to Spota requires that there be a link between intoxication and the crash.The DA also said that Mr. Romeo will be charged. “Here - because the crash was unavoidable, there is no such link and the grand jury did not indict him for Vehicular Manslaughter or Criminally Negligent Homicide.”

Carlo Pino was charged with four counts of criminally megligent homicide, four counts of assault, failure to yield the right of way, reckless driving.

Steven Romeo was charged with DWI  and driving while ability impaired by alcohol.

At the arraignment in State Supreme Court in Central Islip - 

Pino, Carlos F. (Limo driver) – Pleaded not guilty to four charges of criminally negligent homicide, four counts of assault, failure to yield the right of way, reckless driving, turning at an intersection, failure to yield the right of way, failing to stay in a designated lane, and failing to file a required report upon an accident.   Cash bail set at $50,000, Bond is $100,000.  Next court date 4/19/16.

and

Romeo, Steven (Pickup truck driver) – Pleaded not guilty to two counts of driving while intoxicated and one charge of driving while ability impaired by alcohol.  Defendant released on his own recognizance.  Next court date is 4/26/16.