Long Island man pleads guilty to killing 3 women in DUI crash
A Long Island man admitted Tuesday to killing three women while driving drunk nearly two years ago.
Dante Lennon, 23, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree manslaughter and one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced.
Lennon was driving a Mercedes-Benz nearly 70 mph on Jericho Turnpike through New Hyde Park when he slammed into a Lincoln Town Car carrying six people at around 11 p.m. on May 21, 2022.
Three of the passengers — Marlene Luu, 66; Hoa Ho, 68, and Tu Nguyen, 41 — were killed in the crash. The three women were leaving a sweet sixteen birthday party that had recently wrapped up at the Inn in New Hyde Park.
“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,” Donnelly said in a statement.
“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.”
Three other people in the vehicle, identified as men ages 72, 67 and 42, were injured in the wreck. Lennon also pleaded guilty to six counts of assault — three felonies and three misdemeanors — in the case.
The posted speed limit on Jericho Turnpike through New Hyde Park is 35 mph. Lennon was going nearly twice as fast at the time of the crash.
Lennon is due back in court on June 5 for his sentencing hearing. He is expected to get six to 18 years in prison, according to the district attorney’s office.
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