56°
Richard O'Keefe received the reduced charge as part of a plea agreement for his part in the Nov. 14, accident that killed the former teaching aide at nearby Primrose Elementary School, said lohud.com.
State police had originally charged O'Keefe with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, and driving while intoxicated.
The new charge is punishable by up to four years in prison, said lohud.com.
O'Keefe, 59, who was arraigned on the new charges on Jan. 25, is being held without bail while he awaits a plea date, added lohud.com.
The Mahopac resident was arrested the night of the crash, which occurred at 9:38 p.m. on Route 6. According to the investigation, O'Keefe who was driving a Dodge Caravan was cut off by Anna Estrada in her friend's Jeep, state police said after the crash.
O'Keefe's minivan rammed into the Jeep, which flipped, and hit another vehicle, state police said.
Steven Ghelarducci, the owner of the Jeep, was a passenger along with his wife and Estrada's husband, Ernest Estrada, according to lohud.com.
Fran Ghelarducci died at the scene, the other passengers of the Jeep were treated at a nearby hospital for non-life threatening injuries, said lohud.com.
O'Keefe, who refused to take a Breathalyzer test, was not injured, police said.
Click here to read the lohud.com story.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Somers and receive free news updates.
