Thursday, October 1, 2026
A Valley Stream woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a drunken wrong-way crash on Hempstead Avenue last summer that seriously injured a teenage driver and passenger after her vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and struck their car.
The Nassau County District Attorney's Office announced that Kelyse Land, 26, pleaded guilty July 20 before Judge Helene Gugerty to aggravated vehicular assault, two counts of assault and driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.
According to prosecutors, the crash happened at 11:45 p.m. on July 25 of last year when Land was driving a 2003 Nissan on Hempstead Avenue and crossed over the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic.
Prosecutors said Land's vehicle struck the front of a 2022 BMW that was stopped at a red light, causing the BMW to collide with another vehicle.
The teenage driver of the BMW suffered multiple fractures to the hand and wrist, along with lacerations that required more than three dozen stitches. Prosecutors said the injuries left the victim with permanent limited mobility in the wrist. The teenage passenger was treated for a concussion and a sprained ankle.
“She is lucky that her complete disregard for public safety did not end up costing a life,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a news release. “My prosecutors diligently worked every facet of the case to ensure that this defendant was held fully accountable for her crimes and the pain and suffering she caused."
According to the district attorney's office, a blood sample taken about three hours after the crash showed Land's blood alcohol content was 0.17 percent, more than twice the legal limit. Prosecutors said a reverse extrapolation analysis estimated her blood alcohol content was between 0.185 percent and 0.26 percent at the time of the crash.
Investigators also recovered an empty 50-milliliter bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label from Land's pocket after the crash, prosecutors said.
Land is scheduled to return to court Sept. 28 and is expected to be sentenced to two to six years in prison. Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of four to nine years in prison.
Land is represented by Aaron Wallenstein. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Taglienti of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
