Suffolk Man Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced that an Islip Terrace man has been convicted of manslaughter and other charges after he crashed his car into several trees off the Wantagh Parkway in September 2008, killing his girlfriend, 59-year-old Mary McInerney of Hicksville.
Michael Bauer, 53, was convicted by a jury of manslaughter – 2nd degree; vehicular manslaughter – 2nd degree; two counts of driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment – 2nd degree; and reckless driving. He faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced Dec. 4.
According to Rice, at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 5, 2008, Bauer was driving northbound on the Wantagh Parkway after a night of drinking at a bar on Freeport’s Nautical Mile. Bauer, who was driving at speeds approaching 85 miles per hour, lost control of his 2004 BMW 325i, skidding nearly 400 feet and off the roadway before violently striking several trees and coming to a rest near the footbridge connecting the parkway to Wantagh High School. McInerney was a passenger in the car.
“Mr. Bauer did not set out that night to kill his girlfriend, but his reckless decision to drink and drive made this tragedy inevitable,” Rice said. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those individuals who endanger innocent passengers and motorists by drinking and driving.”
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Lampert of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau is handling the cases for the District Attorney’s Office; Bauer is being represented by Garden City-based attorney Marc Gann.
