NORTH PATCHOGUE, NY – In a shocking incident that highlights the dangers of drunk driving and vehicle theft, Jeffrey Edsall, 52, has pleaded guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Assault and other related charges. Edsall stole a car, drove it while under the influence of alcohol, and caused a four-car collision in North Patchogue, Suffolk County. The collision resulted in serious physical injuries to a 73-year-old woman.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney expressed his concern over the incident, stating, “Motorists and their passengers have the right to drive the streets of Suffolk County without having to fear that they are going to be struck by a reckless drunk driver. This defendant presented a clear danger to the citizens of Suffolk County and now will be held accountable for his dangerous actions.”
According to court documents and Edsall’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, the incident occurred on June 15, 2023, at around 7:04 p.m. Edsall was driving a stolen blue 2001 Ford Explorer northbound on North Ocean Avenue when he rear-ended an SUV that was waiting to make a left turn into a parking lot. The impact pushed the SUV forward and caused Edsall’s stolen vehicle to spin into the oncoming southbound lane, resulting in collisions with two additional vehicles. One of these vehicles contained the 73-year-old victim, who sustained multiple injuries, including a broken nose, fractured right wrist, and fractured right leg that required surgery.
During the crash, Edsall was ejected from the stolen vehicle and found unresponsive nearby. He was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where a blood sample was taken and later tested. The results revealed that Edsall’s blood alcohol concentration was .13% at the time of the crash.
On January 30, 2024, Edsall pleaded guilty to several charges, including Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Assault in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, and Driving While Intoxicated Per Se. His sentencing is scheduled for March 4, 2024, and he is expected to receive a prison term of 3 to 6 years, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. The District Attorney’s Office is recommending the maximum sentence of 7.5 to 15 years in prison with 5 years of post-release supervision. Edsall is being represented by Adam J. Markou, Esq. of the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.
Assistant District Attorney James McCormack of the Vehicular Crime Bureau is prosecuting the case, with Detective Stephen Masciopinto of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Squad providing investigative assistance.
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