A boating while intoxicated charge filed against the operator of a speed boat involved in a fatal crash in Mattituck Nov. 10 has been dropped by prosecutors after a blood test showed his blood alcohol content did not exceed the legal limit, according to the Suffolk County district attorney.
Francesco Distefano, 48, of East Northport, the owner of the boat and its operator when it crashed, was initially charged with operating the boat while intoxicated. The crash claimed the life of Kelley Blanchard, 27, of Southold, and seriously injured her sister Megan Blanchard, 29, of New Suffolk, Nick Soullas, 41 of Jamesport and Distefano.
A toxicology report on blood drawn from Distefano, pursuant to a court order, when he arrived at Stony Brook University Hospital the night of the crash, indicated that his blood alcohol content was under the legal threshold for a criminal charge, a spokesperson for the district attorney said today.
“This crash remains under criminal investigation, including a thorough, forensic analysis of all the available evidence,” the D.A.’s office said in a statement.
“Law enforcement is asking anyone with information to call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at (631) 853-4161.”
Distefano’s 39-foot Cobalt crashed into a bulkhead fronting on Great Peconic Bay approximately 200 feet west of the entrance to James Creek, at about 9:15 p.m. on Nov.10, Southold Town Police said. The vessel was approximately 150 from the shoreline when responding officers arrived at the scene. There was substantial damage to both the bulkhead and the vessel, indicating that the collision occurred at significant speed, police said.
Distefano, a former owner of Maximus Health and Fitness in Riverhead is a partner in Michaelangelo’s Pizzeria in Mattituck.
Kelley Blanchard was a sales associate at Riverhead Nissan. Funeral services were held Monday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Mattituck.
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