Man Charged In Crash That Left Mom Dead Had BAC Over 3X Limit: DA

SHIRLEY, NY — A man charged with driving while intoxicated in a crash that killed a Farmingville woman and injured her three children was indicted Wednesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said Wednesday — who added that he was driving with a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit at the time of the crash.

Chris D. Montpetit, 36, of Shirley, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony; second degree manslaughter, a felony; four counts of aggravated vehicular assault, a felony; second degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony; three counts of second degree assault, a felony; and three counts of second degree vehicular assault a felony, Sini said. He was also charged with aggravated DWI, two counts of DWI, and reckless driving, all misdemeanors, Sini said.

At 5:06 p.m. on Sept. 25, Montpetit was driving a 2018 Jeep Cherokee northbound on County Route 83 in Farmingville when he struck the rear of a 2015 Honda Civic, which had become disabled in the right lane and had its hazard lights engaged, Sini said.

The occupants of the Honda, Erika Bautista, 31, of Farmingville, and her three daughters were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious physical injuries; Erika Bautista succumbed to her injuries on Oct. 11, Sini said.

Following the crash, Montpetit was arrested by Suffolk County police officers and transported to the Sixth Precinct, where he refused to submit to a chemical test of his blood, Sini said. The district attorney’s office secured a warrant for a chemical test of Montpetit’s blood that revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.28 percent, more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent, Sini said.

Montpetit was arraigned on the indictment Wednesday in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice William Condon and posted bond in the amount of $500,000, Sini said. He is due back in court on Jan. 6, 2021, and is being represented by Michael Brown, Sini said. If convicted of the top count, Montpetit faces a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison, Sini said.

“Driving drunk is completely inexcusable, especially in this day and age where you can hail a ride home with the push of a button,” Sini said. “Three young girls are now without a mother because of the reckless, senseless actions of this defendant. We will do everything in our power to hold him accountable and to seek justice in this case.”