Queens teen indicted in Nassau for deadly crash - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

Queens teen indicted in Nassau for deadly crash

A Nassau County grand jury indicted Joseph Beer, 17, of Queens, with 14 felony charges from aggravated vehicular homicide to driving while intoxicated with drugs to reckless driving.

Before dawn October 8, the teenager drove with four friends, ages 17 to 18, in his new high performance Subaru Impreza, authorities said.

The prosecutor charges that the unlicensed Beer was high on marijuana when he was driving on the Southern State Parkway at 110 mph. At a curve, he then drove into a tree that spilt his car in half.

Beer survived with minor injuries. All his friends -- Darina Ramnarine, Peter Kanhai, Neal Rajap, and Christopher Kahn -- died.

With his mother crying and father looking numb, a handcuffed Beer entered a not guilty plea.

Prosecutors wanted $500,000 bail. Judge David Ayres gave him a $2 million bail bond. The teenager's transit worker father will not be able to make his son's bail, says his lawyer.

Beer faces 25 years to life if convicted of the charges.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said a message had to be sent that the teenager made a choice. She also wanted to send a message to parents that they cannot let teenagers drive without a license. They face up to 15 days in jail.

The district attorney noted that the wed before thanksgiving traditionally has the largest number of teenagers killed in traffic accidents.