By Cris Italia
It was a Sunday afternoon June 24, 2001, when Hart, 28, allegedly challenged Michael Vasapolli, 30, of North Woodmere to a drag race. The two took off racing down Lawson Boulevard in Oceanside, until Vasapolli tried to pass Hart with his Lamborghini in a lane with on-coming traffic.
Glenn Jacofsky, 43, of Oceanside, was in his Volvo driving in the other direction with his wife, Amy, when Vasapolli hit him head-on. Both Vasapolli and Jacofsky were killed, while Hart lost control and drove into a parked school bus.
This is a sad day for everyone, Amy Jacofsky told reporters after the verdict. Jacofsky gave an emotional testimony of the accident last week. She explained how at over 80 miles per hour, her husband couldn't have seen Vasapolli coming. During her testimony, Jacofsky broke down several times, but she continued stating that her car had been turned upside down and the accident had felt like turbulence from an airplane.
No matter what happened, my husband and the father of my children won't be coming back, Jacofsky said.
The jury found that Hart aided the driver of the Lamborghini in causing this deadly crash by engaging in an illegal high-speed race, said Nassau District Attorney, Denis Dillon.
As a result of Hart's actions, a hard-working, law-abiding family man was killed, his wife was injured and left without a husband, and two young children lost their father, Dillon added.
Prosecutor Frank Schroeder felt the jury had no tolerance for this type of action. Every one of those jurors drives on those roads. To drive 80 miles per hour on Lawson Boulevard at 3:30 in the morning is reckless, but to do it at 3:30 in the afternoon, when it's crowded, is unconscionable, Schroeder said.
Schroeder also said the decision was just, because the race was initiated by Hart. He claimed in his defense that he didn't hit anyone, but he drove 80 miles per hour over the double yellow line opposing traffic just to catch up to the Lamborghini, Schroeder said. This was just a battle of two big egos.
Traveling in a 1990 Corvette, Hart had tried to catch up to Vasapolli, according to witnesses on the street, allegedly so he could race him. Schroeder added that Hart had been fascinated with racing the Lamborghini.
Hart's attorney, Edward Jenks, was disappointed and surprised by the quick decision.
I'm extremely disappointed. When you put your heart and soul into a case and it turns out like this you feel horrible, Jenks said.
Jenks admitted that Hart was speeding and did make a reckless decision, but in no way was he responsible for the deaths of Jacofsky and Vasapolli. Jenks said that Hart did not push Vasapolli's car off the road, therefore he should not be responsible for their deaths.
Hart faces up to 15 years in prison, but plans to appeal the decision immediately. Hart will be sentenced Aug. 1.
