A Suffolk County Community College dean is facing upgraded charges of criminally negligent homicide and drugged-driving allegations stemming from a crash that claimed two lives on the Meadowbrook State Parkway.
New York State Police said Robert Beodeker surrendered to investigators Friday before he pleaded not guilty to the new charges, which also include vehicular manslaughter and driving while ability impaired.
Tests showed the 50-year-old Aquebogue man had methamphetamine and amphetamine in his blood at the time of the March 4 crash that killed two men fixing their broken-down vehicle on the side of the parkway, police said. He reportedly had been taking the prescription sleep aid Ambien.
The victims, 76-year-old John Elder of Freeport and 65-year-old Edward Ross of North Bellmore, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Beodeker, an associate dean of student services at SCCC who’s been suspended, was also driving with a suspended license at the time, police have said. He was initially charged with reckless driving and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
His bail was set at $1 million and he faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
