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Matthew Smith, who was underage at the time, admitted he was drinking for hours before running a red light and killing Patricia Espinosa
NEED TO KNOW
- Matthew Smith, now 21, was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison for the crash that killed Patricia Espinosa
- Smith, underage at the time, had a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit after a night of heavy drinking, per prosecutors
- Espinosa was a dedicated police officer, wife and mother to a 2-year-old daughter
A New York man whose hours-long drinking binge culminated in a crash that killed an off-duty police officer has learned his fate.
Matthew Smith, now 21, was sentenced Monday, July 20, to 7 1/3 to 22 years in state prison for the drunken crash that killed Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa in January, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office announced in a press release.
Smith pleaded guilty in June to a slew of charges including aggravated vehicular manslaughter, manslaughter, aggravated DWI and assault, court records show.
Smith and a passenger left Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel in Islandia in Smith’s Chevy Silverado pickup truck at around 6:07 a.m., following a night of heavy drinking, the DA’s office said in the release, citing court documents and the defendant’s plea allocution.
Smith was just 20 years old at the time, not of legal age to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.
After leaving the casino, Smith ran a red light at 70 mph in a 30 mph posted zone, smashing into Espinosa’s vehicle as she was on her way to work. Espinosa was pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital, while Smith’s passenger was taken to the same hospital with serious injuries.
Smith’s blood alcohol level measured .20, more than twice the legal limit, according to the DA’s office. A bottle of Bacardi was also found in the car.
At his plea hearing, Smith admitted to drinking at a friend’s house and at four different bars, News 12 Long Island reported. Video released by prosecutors showed him weaving through traffic at up to 125 miles per hour that night.
Espinosa, 42, had worked as a police officer in Nassau County since 2017. She had immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador at the age of 21 without knowing any English, the Nassau County Police Hispanic Society wrote in 2021.
She left behind a husband, Francisco Malaga, a fellow Nassau County police officer, as well as a 2-year-old daughter. She had two brothers who also serve as police officers, the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association wrote following her death.
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“Patricia was much more than the victim; she was an incredible woman, supportive wife ... and a dedicated police officer,” Malaga said in a victim impact statement at the courthouse in Riverhead on July 20, News 12 reported. “I couldn’t save her, I couldn’t change what happened. I watched the love of my life slip away.”
Ahead of sentencing, Smith offered an apology to Espinosa’s family.
“I am truly sorry for my actions. I will continue to think about my actions with deep regret,” he said, per News 12. “I will continue to think about you for years to come. I hope you find it in your hearts to forgive me for all I have done.”
Read the original article on People
