Mattituck Man Indicted After Fatal Accident

Keith Clancy, 32, of Mattituck, was high on fentanyl when he struck and killed a pedestrian on July 14, a Suffolk Grand Jury decided last week.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini announced the unsealing of an 11-count indictment against Clancy that detailed the allegations. At approximately 12:21 PM July 14, Clancy was driving a 2014 Nissan sedan southbound on Lake Avenue in St. James when he left his lane, crossing onto the shoulder of the road and striking northbound jogger Michael McDermott, 37, of Smithtown.

“Drugged driving is often deadly, as it was in this case,” Sini said. “We lost a beloved member of our community and nothing will bring him back. We will seek justice in this case.”

Clancy is charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, a B felony; manslaughter in the second degree, a C felony; vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, a D felony; leaving the scene of an accident without reporting, a D felony; tampering with physical evidence, an E felony; driving while ability impaired by drugs, an E felony; aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, an E felony; reckless endangerment in the second degree, an A misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, an A misdemeanor; and reckless driving, an unclassified misdemeanor.

Clancy allegedly left the scene of the crash. He was apprehended by Suffolk County police officers at approximately 12:49 PM while traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway near exit 69 in Manorville.

Clancy’s vehicle was severely damaged, with a large hole in its windshield and blood on both the exterior and interior of the car. The vehicle was also missing its front license plate, which was recovered at the scene of the crash. A blood test taken approximately three-and-a-half hours after the crash revealed a high level of fentanyl in Clancy’s blood. A search warrant executed on Clancy’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of a glassine envelope of the drug.

He is currently free on bail that was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. He is due back in court September 10. Clancy faces a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison.

Southold Town

Southold Town police arrested a Cutchogue man they suspect was driving drunk after he struck a utility pole on Bridge Lane at about 4 AM Friday, August 9. Peter Martin, 25, was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, as well as a marijuana violation, police said, and held for arraignment later that morning.

Southold police arrested a Cutchogue man on Wednesday, August 7, after he allegedly grabbed a rifle during a dispute with another man said to be his landlord.

At about 7:30, a call came in that Andrew Watroba, 40, allegedly made threatening statements and then locked himself inside his Aldrich Lane residence. Southold Police responded and surrounded the home. A Suffolk County police emergency services unit was also called. Watroba came out on his own accord and was arrested for an active warrant stemming from a prior incident.

On Shelter Island

Shelter Island police reported three arrests for drinking and driving. On Thursday, August 8, Robin O’Reilly, 54, of Manhattan, was observed changing lanes unsafely, police said. After pulling her over, police ascertained she had been drinking excessively. She was arraigned the next morning and released on her own recognizance.

Three days earlier, police said they noticed a driver making an illegal left turn, and pulled her over. Lauren Dickerson, 65, was impaired by drugs, they concluded. She was so charged, and an additional charge of unlawful possession of marijuana was leveled. She was arraigned and RORed in justice court.

Police said they pulled Galit Shrvit, 43, of Sag Harbor, over July 31 for assorted traffic infractions. Police said field tests revealed she was intoxicated. Shrvit will answer the charges next month.

rmurphy@indyeastend.com