Matthew Sheehy Was Allegedly Speeding and Impaired by Alcohol and Drugs When He Crashed into a Disabled Motorist on the Shoulder of the Road

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Feb. 19 that Matthew Sheehy, 47, of East Setauket, was indicted for Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Assault in the Second Degree, and other related charges, for allegedly speeding while intoxicated and impaired by drugs, and causing a three-vehicle crash that resulted in injuries to four people.

“This defendant allegedly made the reckless choice to drive while impaired by drugs and alcohol, forever changing the lives of innocent people who were simply trying to get to their destinations that day,” said District Attorney Tierney. “What we see in this case is the devastating cost of impaired driving and we will not tolerate drivers who turn our roadways into danger zones for law- abiding citizens.”

According to the investigation, on November 15, 2024, at approximately 12:21 a.m., Sheehy allegedly drove eastbound on the Long Island Expressway at a high rate of speed in his 2022 Ram pick-up truck, weaving in and out of lanes before he veered into the right shoulder of the expressway near Exits 62 and 63. He ultimately crashed into a disabled 2010 Chrysler Town and Country minivan that was parked on the shoulder that had one occupant inside.

The Chrysler was propelled into the expressway’s HOV lane, came to a stop, and was then struck by a third vehicle, a 2018 Honda CRV, which had three occupants inside. One passenger in the CRV sustained serious injuries from the crash, including the loss of her eyesight in one eye, brain bleeding and a skull fracture. The two other occupants inside the CRV and the occupant inside the Chrysler sustained various other injuries that required medical treatment at local hospitals.

Sheehy was later taken to the hospital where he was placed under arrest after it was determined that Sheehy was allegedly intoxicated by alcohol and impaired by drugs.

On February 19, 2025, Sheehy was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas, for the following charges:

• One count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a Class C felony;
• One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D felony;
• One count of Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
• One count of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a Class E felony;
• Two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Class E felonies;
• Two Counts of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Class E felonies;
• One Count of Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs

  or of Alcohol and any Drug or Drugs, a Class E felony;

• Three counts of Assault in the Third Degree, Class A misdemeanors;
• One count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
• One count of Reckless Driving, an Unclassified misdemeanor;
• One count of Moving from Lane Unsafely, a traffic infraction;
• One count of Speeding, a traffic infraction;
• One count of Driving on Shoulder, a traffic infraction; and
• One count of Failing to Move Over, a traffic infraction