Long Island Man Involved In Fatal DWI Crash Indicted On Manslaughter: DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — The Medford man accused of driving drunk in a crash that resulted in another man's death has been indicted on a charge of second-degree manslaughter, the Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said Wednesday.

Noah Slusser, 21, drove under the influence in a 2017 Ford Taurus, southbound on Wilson Drive, when it struck a 2025 Toyota that was parked on the street in front of a home on Wilson Drive on Aug. 27, Tierney's office said. The Toyota's driver, James Baldassarri, 44, of Holtsville, was initially taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries, but succumbed Aug. 29, Suffolk police said.

Police initially charged Slusser with driving while intoxicated.

In addition to manslaughter, Slusser faces charges of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and assault, two counts driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired by drugs, driving while impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, and reckless driving.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, online court records show.

He was ordered held on $250,000, $500,000 bond, or $1,500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and his license was suspended.

Slusser, who is due back in court on Nov. 17, faces five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

Patch has reached out to his defense attorney, Joseph Cozzo of Babylon.

Tierney said, “Drunk and drugged drivers kill too many Suffolk citizens when they could simply call a ride-share.”

“This driver is alleged to have driven under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, at excessive speed, before crashing into a parked car and killing James Baldassarri, who was simply sitting in his car,” he said. “We will seek to hold the defendant responsible for this perfectly avoidable tragedy.”

At around 12 a.m., Slusser was driving a 2017 Ford Taurus southbound on Wilson Avenue at a high rate of speed while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Slusser allegedly drove into a marked shoulder lane of the residential street and crashed into a parked 2025 Toyota Crown near Adams Lane, Tierney said.

The victim was seated inside the Toyota at the time of impact and suffered a serious brain injury as a result of the crash.

Responding police officers allegedly observed that Slusser exhibited signs of intoxication and placed him under arrest at the scene.

Another person inside Baldassarri's vehicle, a 27-year-old woman from Middle Island, was taken to NYU Langone Hospital – Suffolk in East Patchogue for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

In a post to Facebook, Baldassarri was remembered as "the kindest person," who did not have "a bad bone" in his body.

"You only wished everyone well and wanted to be surrounded by family," his sister, Jeanine Baldassarri wrote. "You were the fun uncle also known as 'goo goo gaga.' You had a beautiful smile and always made us laugh. [Rest in peace] our beautiful brother ... you are loved so deeply."