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Rohan Patrick, 41, entered the guilty plea on Tuesday, March 26 in Dutchess County Court, admitting to driving a vehicle in a criminally negligent manner on May 25, 2024, when he struck and killed Bard College student Ling Hong Nguyen in Red Hook, Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi announced on Thursday, March 27.
On the day of the crash, Patrick was driving a 2017 Ford Fusion. Prosecutors said he was drowsy and had been struggling to stay awake and maintain control of the vehicle for at least 30 minutes before the fatal collision.
Patrick also admitted to driving 50 to 60 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone and failing to perceive the risk that he might fall asleep at the wheel.
The DA's Office said Patrick pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, as charged by a Dutchess County Grand Jury.
"This plea reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and the irreparable harm caused by his negligence," Patrick said, adding, "While there was no intention to cause harm, the defendant’s failure to exercise the most basic care led to the tragic and avoidable death of a promising young woman, Ling Hong Nguyen."
Former Bard president Leon Botstein said Nguyen was a "very talented pianist" following her death. She had just earned a Master of Music in Instrumental Studies.
Nguyen grew up in Hanoi, Vietnam, and came to Bard for graduate school after completing a bachelor of music from the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Botstein said.
While studying in the Conservatory at Bard, she was a member of Terrence Wilson's studio. He added that Linh was excited to begin her doctoral degree studies at Stony Brook University in the Fall of 2024 in Christina Dahl's studio.
Patrick is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, May 15.
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