Merokean indicted in fatal hit-and-run

A Merrick woman was arraigned on Tuesday on a six-count indictment and charged with a Fourth of July fatal hit-and-run on Sunrise Highway in which she was allegedly driving while intoxicated, as well as an October 2014 incident in East Meadow in which she was also allegedly driving drunk, said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Stephanie Beeker, 67, was arraigned before Supreme Court Judge Terence Murphy on charges of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene without reporting and four counts of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Bail was continued in the amount of $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash, and Beeker was required to surrender her passport to the court while the case is pending. She is due back in court on Feb. 5. She faces a maximum of up to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison on each of the top charges.

“An innocent pedestrian was attempting to cross Sunrise Highway when his life was senselessly taken away from him,” Singas said. “This incident is yet another reminder that protecting our pedestrians must become a priority in Nassau County, and the laws against fleeing the scene of a crash must be strengthened.”

Last July 4, at about 11 p.m., Beeker was allegedly driving a 2013 Nissan Altima in the left lane eastbound on Sunrise Highway, just before the entrance to the Meadowbrook Parkway. She crossed the intersection by the entrance to the Meadowbrook Corners shopping center when she struck and killed a man who was thrown into the center lane, about 80 feet from the crosswalk, according to Singas. Pieces of the her vehicle and license plate holder were recovered between the crosswalk and the victim.

Beeker’s windshield was smashed in by the impact, and she continued eastbound toward her home, but then made a U-turn and headed westbound, driving past the victim lying in the road. She drove to her father’s house in Baldwin, where she called 911 more than 45 minutes after the crash. She was arrested at the home by Nassau County Police Department officers.

On Oct. 22, 2014, Beeker was stopped by police for failing to maintain her lane of travel on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow and was arrested by Nassau Highway Patrol Bureau officers.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Zizza of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case. Beeker is represented by Dennis Lemke, who could not be reached for comment at press time.