GA Woman Indicted In Connection To Deadly Long Island Crash: Nassau DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Georgia woman was arraigned Tuesday on manslaughter for allegedly driving high on marijuana and t-boning another vehicle in Massapequa, killing the driver in April, prosecutors said.

Rachel Lodice, 21, was indicted on second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting as a felony.

"Rachel Lodice was allegedly high on marijuana when she drove a harrowing several miles down Hicksville Road, speeding into oncoming traffic, weaving in and out of lanes, running red lights and narrowly missing other cars," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. "This defendant’s alleged trail of terror ended only when she blew one last red light onto Sunrise Highway, slamming into Cynthia Mitchell’s vehicle, ending her life and injuring her friend."

Mitchell’s passenger suffered several broken ribs and a spleen hematoma. He was treated and released from an area hospital.

According to the event data recorder from Lodice’s vehicle, the she was allegedly driving approximately 75 miles per hour five seconds before the crash. The speed limit at that section of roadway is 35 miles per hour, Donnelly said.

Lodice pleaded not guilty and bail was continued at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond and $1.25 million partially secured bond. She is due back in court on July 8, 2024. If convicted, she faces up to seven-1/3 to 22 years in prison.

"Whether a person is impaired by alcohol or marijuana, driving impaired can end in tragedy. I urge Nassau County residents to heed this warning: do not get behind the wheel high on marijuana."