Steven Sharma, 24, from New Hyde Park, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison at Suffolk County Court on Thursday 27 April.
He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide in the September 2021 death of 22-year-old Brandon Nazirbage in Floral Park.
According to Suffolk County Police, at approximately 3:40 a.m. on Sunday, September 19, 2021, emergency responders in East Farmingdale received reports of a BMW traveling from Highway 109 West to Highway 110 South. Hit the concrete centerline while driving.
Investigators determined that Sharma failed to make a successful turn and sprinted through the stop sign at nearly 80 miles per hour before hitting the median head-on. The posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour.
Nazir Budge, who was in the front passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said Sharma was airlifted to hospital for treatment, while three other passengers were in non-life threatening condition, including one who underwent surgery for a broken leg.
Sharma later admitted the group were on their way home after a night of drinking when the accident happened
According to prosecutors, a blood sample given while he was being treated in the hospital showed a blood alcohol level of 0.22 percent, almost three times the legal driving limit.
Blood samples also showed the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
“The accused’s friends believed he would get them home safely, but he did the exact opposite,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.
“The defendant’s actions constituted a series of fatal choices that changed the lives of many. He left a family without sons, brothers and loved ones, and now he must face the consequences of his criminal actions.”
On October 26, 2022, Sharma pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide (felony)
- One count of second degree manslaughter (felony)
- One count of assault in the second degree (felony)
- Four counts of third-degree assault (misdemeanors)
- One count of driving while impaired by the combined influence of drugs or alcohol with any drug (misdemeanor)
- DUI aggravated driving (misdemeanor)
In addition to the jail sentence, the judge also revoked Sharma’s driver’s license.
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