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Joseph DeBellis, of Airmont, was sentenced on Tuesday, March 15, to six months of incarceration followed by five years of probation, according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh.
The crash happened at about 2:50 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2021, on Route 202 in Montebello when DeBellis, then 17, was a Suffern High School student.
DeBellis was driving a vehicle at speeds higher than 80 mph while he was drunk and high when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole, killing one passenger, a 16-year-old girl who also attended Suffern HS, and seriously injuring three other passengers, according to the announcement.
According to the DA's Office, DeBellis pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Aggravated vehicular homicide
- Second-degree vehicular manslaughter
- Second-degree manslaughter
- Four counts of second-degree assault
- First-degree vehicular assault
- Four counts of second-degree vehicular assault
- Two counts of driving while intoxicated
- Driving while ability impaired by drugs
- Driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs and alcohol
- Reckless driving
“No parent should ever have to bury their own child," District Attorney Walsh said. "Drinking while driving is an egregious offense that is easily preventable.
"We must use tragic events this as learning lessons for our teens, that your actions and decisions have real consequences. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the Suffern community and the families impacted by this tragedy.”
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