Glen Cove Woman Indicted After Fatal North Hills Crash; Accused Of Using Xanax, Cocaine: NCDA

NORTH HILLS, NY — A Glen Cove woman was indicted after a fatal crash involving a motorcycle in North Hills that occurred in July 2025, the Nassau County DA's office said.

Nina Varrino, 52, worked as an Uber driver and was accused of being high on cocaine and Xanax when she was involved in a fatal crash with a motorcycle carrying a husband and wife; a 58-year-old woman was killed, the DA's office said.

The fatal crash involving a motorcycle occurred on July 12, 2025, at 12:49 p.m. in North Hills, Nassau County police said. DA Donnelly said, according to the indictment, a 64-year-old man was driving with his 58-year-old wife as a passenger, who was later identified as Lisa Pelaez, on a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle on the South Service Road of the Long Island Expressway between New Hyde Park Road and Shelter Rock Road in North Hills.

The couple was heading out for an afternoon in Port Jefferson and to a motorcycle museum in Oyster Bay, the DA's office said.

At the same time, a 51-year-old woman was driving her 2025 Kia Sportage behind the victims and was accused of falling asleep at the wheel, the DA's office said. NCPD said the Kia was traveling eastbound as well when the car and motorcycle were involved in a crash.

After the crash, Varrino managed to climb out of the car, only sustaining minor injuries, the DA said. Pelaez suffered blunt trauma and was taken to North Shore University Hospital – Manhasset, where she succumbed to her injuries approximately two hours after the crash, the DA's office said. Pelaez's husband suffered multiple broken ribs, a fractured spine, fractures to both shoulders, and a collapsed lung requiring surgery and intubation for approximately 10 days after the crash — he also remained hospitalized for one month after the crash, the DA's office said.

The DA's office said that Varrino was accused of working the night before the crash as an Uber driver, staying up partying and drinking alcohol, and ingesting drugs. Varrino's blood revealed active levels of cocaine and Xanax about four hours after the crash, the DA's office said.

On Feb. 18, Varrino was arrested after an investigation and charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault, first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular assault, reckless driving, two counts of driving while ability impaired by drugs, driving while ability impaired combination of drugs and alcohol, NCPD said.

Varrino was arraigned on Feb. 18 at County Court in Mineola before Judge Helene Gugerty on grand jury indictment charges – she pleaded not guilty and was remanded, the DA's office said. Varrino is due back in court on March 20, and if convicted, she could face 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison, the DA's office said.

"For miles along multiple busy highways and roads, this defendant recklessly drove while allegedly high on drugs," DA Anne Donnelly said. "She was even told by bystanders to stop driving, but the defendant did not heed those words, and ultimately, drove on a fatal collision course with Lisa Pelaez and her husband. Nina Varrino crashed into the back of Lisa and her husband’s motorcycle, ejecting them both, as the twisted metal of the car and bike burst into flames. Lisa tragically died hours later at the hospital, while her husband spent a month recovering from multiple broken bones and a collapsed lung. Had this defendant just pulled off the road, stopped driving, and thought for a moment about the lives she was endangering, Lisa would still be with her family."

An investigation determined that before the fatal crash, Varrino was accused of driving erratically, the DA's office said. Approximately an hour and 20 minutes before the fatal crash, Varrino drove erratically on the Cross Island Parkway, pulled over on the shoulder, and witnesses told Varrino that she should not be driving, the DA's office said. A few minutes later, at 11:40 a.m., Varrino was accused of driving on the Marathon Parkway in Queens and crashing into the rear of a car, continuing to drive afterwards, the DA's office said.