Man Charged For Killing Family In Sunrise Highway Crash: Prosecutors

MINEOLA, NY — A Lindenhurst was arraigned on Wednesday in connection to a crash that four members of the same family, prosecutors announced.

Michael DeAngelo, 32, appeared before a judge on charges that include six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, five counts of first-degree vehicular manslaughter and four counts of second-degree manslaughter.

On the evening of Aug. 6, DeAngelo allegedly impaired with fentanyl and cocaine, drove his 2023 Hyundai Kona into multiple vehicles stopped at a red light on Sunrise Highway at Unqua Road, Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly said.

Patrice Huntley, 60, was stopped at the traffic light when his 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe was pushed through the intersection and spun around into oncoming traffic.

DeAngelo's vehicle went airborne, according to the DA, and landed upside down. The event data recorder inside the Kona indicated he was driving approximately 120 miles per hour. the DA's office said.

"Patrice Huntley and three children – members of the same family – were killed due to the extraordinarily reckless actions of a defendant who was allegedly driving 120 miles an hour while impaired by cocaine and fentanyl," Donnelly said. "No one was safe on Sunrise Highway that Sunday evening and tragically Patrice, Jeremiah, Hannah, and Chantel lost their lives while going to get ice cream."

Huntley, a Marine veteran, was celebrating a recent job offer and had taken five members of his family out for ice cream.

As a result of the crash, Patrice Huntley, his 10-year-old son Jeremiah Huntley, and his 13-year-old daughter Hannah Huntley were killed that same night. Six-year-old Chantel Solomon succumbed to her injuries six days later.

Huntley’s 18-year-old stepdaughter and six-year-old step-granddaughter, Chantel Solomon, suffered catastrophic injuries, while his 14-year-old son was also hurt in the crash.

DeAngelo, who faces felony counts of driving while ability impaired by drugs and driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs, pleaded not guilty and was remanded.

The case is due back in court on October 19. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.