The Peconic man charged with driving while intoxicated in Saturday’s fatal limo crash in Cutchogue was found to have a blood alcohol level of .066. “Standing alone, it would be driving while impaired,” Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said today.
At a press conference this morning, Spota said while that number is under the legal limit for driving while intoxicated, the investigation continues, and factors still under consideration include speed of both vehicles, reconstruction of the accident scene, whether or not there were drugs in the defendant Steve Romeo’s blood, cell phone information for both Romeo and the limo driver, and interviews with witnesses who have come forward as recently as this morning. Other factors include his body weight and how long it had been since he’d eaten, as well as what he’d eaten, Spota said.
Also, Spota said, blood was not drawn until one hour and 40 minutes after the accident, and “most likely,” his BAC reading could have been “.08,” the legal limit for driving while intoxicated.
Spota said the blood was not drawn sooner because responders on the scene were trying to save lives, with eight passengers and the limo driver to treat. The time factor is not unusual, he said, in a “life-saving” situation. “The first priority is to save lives,” he said.
There was no breathalyzer information taken at the scene, Spota said.
Three of the surviving women remain in the hospital, Spota said; one has been released. None of the survivors have been interviewed.
Romeo, 55, was charged with driving while intoxicated after the accident, and so far, those charges remain, Spota said; it is unclear whether they will be downgraded or upgraded.
He remains at Eastern Long Island Hospital with the physical injury of a broken nose. While some say he could be released by tomorrow, Spota said his attorney has said there is information to the contrary and that his stay might take longer. Spota said Romeo’s attorney might have “better information” of why he might remain hospitalized. “I’m not at liberty to go into what other matters might be affecting him,” Spota said.
The limo, Spota said, did have seat belts but it has not yet been determined if the girls were wearing them. The limo is still being examined for factors including side impact protection, he said.
The investigation has been “very difficult” because of the “massive impact” of the crash, Spota said.
“We have a very emerging picture, but it is not a complete picture,” Spota said, of the accident.
Bail was lowered yesterday for Romeo.
At a bail hearing before Judge Rudy Bruer in Southold Town Justice Court, assistant district attorney John Scott Prudenti and attorney Steve O’Brien, newly representing defendant Steve Romeo, 55, both agreed to the new bail, $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.
The bail was lowered from the initial $500,000 cash or $1 million bond set at Romeo’s bedside arraignment at Eastern Long Island Hospital.
Romeo, Bruer said, remains hospitalized; hospital staff said it was “best” that he remain at ELIH for treatment. District Attorney Thomas Spota said at a press conference this week that Romeo suffered a broken nose in the crash.
Bruer said the bail was lowered after both sides agreed on the amount; the length of the ongoing investigation was a factor in the lowered amount, he said. He asked O’Brien if his client would be able to make bail.
“He hopes to make it,” he said.
A court appearance scheduled for tomorrow was canceled; the next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 18.
The young women who lost their lives in the accident were identified as Brittany M. Schulman, 23, of Smithtown, Lauren Baruch, 24, of Smithtown, Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park, and Amy R. Grabina, 23, of Commack.
Also injured in the accident were the driver of the limousine, Carlos Pino, 58, of Bethpage, Joelle M. Dimonte, 25, of Ellwood, Melissa Angela Crai, 23, of Scarsdale, Alicia Arundel, 24, of Setauket, and Olga Lipets, 24, of Brooklyn. All were taken to area hospitals for treatment, police said.
According to Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Miller, who works in the vehicular crimes unit, Romeo was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.
Those charges have not yet been upgraded and it is unclear if they will be; Spota said the investigation was still in the preliminary stages this week.
The limo driver agreed to alcohol and drug testing and was found to have neither in his system at the time of the accident, Spota said.
Romeo’s attorney at the arraignment on Sunday, Dan O’Brien, said his client pleaded not guilty.
He expressed condolences to the victims’ families after the tragedy and said Romeo had “serious” injuries. “It’s a tough situation,” he said.
O’Brien said his client did not try to run from police, as some have reported.
“He did not leave the scene,” he said.
Spota said at the press conference that while Romeo allegedly walked away from the scene after speaking with police for 15 minutes, climbed a fence and headed down an embankment, he did return to the scene when asked. He said it had not yet been determined if what transpired fell within the legal guidelines that would lead Romeo to be charged with leaving the scene.
No results are available yet regarding Rome’s blood alcohol level at the time of the accident, officials siad.
Miller confirmed that the passengers in the limo included a bride and her bridesmaids who were “celebrating a wedding,” but did not specify if they attended a bachelorette party. The bride survived, she said.
The limo driver was making a turn on Route 48 to head west when Romeo, who was heading west, T-boned the car.
In 2014, Romeo was involved in an industrial accident that killed a worker, according to multiple reports. However, that was deemed an accident and there was no “criminality” involved, according to Spota.
The limo was of coming from Vineyard 48 and headed west to bring the girls back to Smithtown, Spota said.
