An Island Park man was sentenced Friday to 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison for driving while high on drugs and causing a high-speed crash that killed two people Lynbrook two years ago.
John Aniano, 27, had been convicted of vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving and driving while under the influence of drugs in December at Nassau County court.
“Aniano displayed an utter contempt for the lives of the people in his path,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.
Prosecutors said Aniano was driving his Mercedes Benz more than 100 mph westbound on Sunrise Highway in a 30 mph zone when he rear-ended a Toyota Avalon stopped at a red light at the corner of Forest Avenue at 8:13 p.m. Jan. 12, 2015. The Avalon was pushed into the opposite lanes of traffic, where it collided with an eastbound vehicle.
The driver of the Avalon, 54-year-old John Jones, was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital, where he died of his injuries. His 53-year-old passenger, Sharon Long, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Aniano was arrested at the scene by Lynbrook village police, who found him to be under the influence of marijuana.
