Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Freeport man pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and manslaughter charges for a drunken high-speed crash that killed three and injured another three members of the same family in May 2022.
Dante Lennon, 23, pleaded guilty today before Judge Tammy Robbins to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony), three counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); three counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D felony), three counts of Assault in the Third Degree (an A misdemeanor); and Driving While Intoxicated (an Unclassified misdemeanor). The defendant is due back in court on June 5, 2024, and is expected to be sentenced to six to 18 years in prison. The NCDA recommended a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison.
“A sweet sixteen party should be a cherished memory for family, but because of this defendant’s reckless and callous disregard for other motorists, it will instead be remembered as an unbelievable tragedy,” said DA Donnelly. “In an instant, three family members were lost and another three injured when Dante Lennon, drunk and speeding, barreled into their Town Car. We continue to hold the family of Marlene Luu, Hoa Ho, and Tu Nguyen in our thoughts as this defendant is sentenced for his crimes.”
DA Donnelly said that on May 21, 2022, at approximately 11:08 p.m., the defendant was driving a Mercedes Benz at a high rate of speed, approximately twice the 35-mile-per-hour speed limit, and while intoxicated on Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park.
The defendant was driving eastbound when he broadsided a Lincoln Town Car and rear-ended a parked Ram pickup truck. The force of the impact killed Marlene Luu, 66; Hoa Ho, 68; and Tu Nguyen, 41. The crash also injured three men in the car, ages 72, 42, and 67.
The occupants of the car, all of whom were relatives, were leaving a Sweet 16 party at the Inn in New Hyde Park.
The defendant was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department at the scene.
Deputy Bureau Chief Katie Zizza and Assistant District Attorney Nicole Vota of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau are prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by Robert Schalk, Esq.