Roslyn Heights Man Sentenced In Fatal Crash

Ann Givens
July 16, 2008

A Roslyn Heights man will serve 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for causing the death of his friend in a 2006 car crash, his lawyer said yesterday.

Andrew Dong, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter for causing the death of his friend, Fidel Alincastre Jr., 18, of New Hyde Park, Dong’s attorney, Todd Greenberg of Forest Hills, said. Nassau County Court Judge George Peck granted Dong youthful offender status, which means his record will be sealed.

Because he is a youthful offender, prosecutors did not comment on the case.

Police said Dong, driving north on Shelter Rock Road in August 2006, lost control of his car, striking the curb and then a utility pole. Alincastre, a passenger in Dong’s 1999 Honda Civic, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Dong also was thrown from the vehicle.

“This is a young man who lead an exemplary life, but made a stupid mistake,” Greenberg said.