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Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Frank Labidi, 24, of Farmingville, pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to manslaughter and assault charges stemming from a fatal January crash in Hicksville that killed two 19-year-old Levittown teenagers, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office. The two victims died instantly when Labidi lost control of his 2018 BMW M5 while driving at 82 mph in a 40 mph zone on West Old Country Road on January 23 at approximately 11:30 p.m., prosecutors said.
Labidi was arraigned before Judge Robert Bogle in a packed courtroom at the Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola on grand jury indictment charges of two counts of second-degree manslaughter, a C felony, and two counts of second-degree assault, a D violent felony, the DA’s office said. Bail was continued at $500,000 cash, $1.25 million bond, and $2.5 million partially secured bond, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. Labidi is scheduled to return to court on April 28 and faces 7 to 15 years in prison if convicted.
According to crash data recorder evidence presented by prosecutors, Labidi was driving westbound on West Old Country Road at 82 miles per hour with full acceleration and no braking three seconds before the crash. The data recorder also revealed that the car’s stability control system was manually disabled, which overrides safety features built into the vehicle to protect passengers, the DA said. Labidi lost control of the vehicle, crossed into oncoming eastbound traffic lanes, then crashed into a tree and a commercial building, prosecutors said.
The passenger side of the BMW struck the tree at impact, killing both passengers instantly, and the force of the collision propelled the car’s muffler through the window of an orthopedic practice, according to the DA’s office. District Attorney Donnelly described the crash as involving “grossly reckless actions made by a man looking for cheap thrills” and called it a “preventable” tragedy. She noted that Labidi is a “racing enthusiast” who had driven the same BMW in a previous race at a raceway in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania and had made $35,000 in modifications to the engine and transmission.
The victims had been spending the evening playing pool at Round 1, just minutes away from the crash site, and were heading to regroup at a family home in Levittown before going to Wawa, according to family members. A sibling of one victim was already at home waiting for the group to arrive and had been just a few minutes ahead of them on the same route. “There was no reason they couldn’t get home but the driver and his choices, and that wasn’t his choice to make for them,” the sibling said following the arraignment.
In emotional statements after the court proceedings, family members spoke about their ongoing grief. “They were driving faster than their guardian angel could fly that night, and they weren’t able to be protected, and right now, we have to live with that every day,” said one family member. “Every day, we wake up, and it weighs on us. It doesn’t feel real.” They criticized the vehicle choice for the weather conditions, stating, “A car like that should never be on a road on a night like that. It was freezing. If you have summer tires on, they don’t grip the road.”
Location & Road Context
The fatal crash occurred on West Old Country Road in Hicksville, a major east-west arterial road that runs through multiple Nassau County communities. The roadway carries significant traffic volumes and connects residential areas with commercial districts throughout the region. The collision happened in a 40 mph speed limit zone where Labidi was traveling more than double the posted limit when he lost control of his modified BMW M5.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The case moved through the grand jury process, resulting in the felony indictment that was unsealed during Thursday’s arraignment. Prosecutors built their case using crash data recorder evidence that precisely documented Labidi’s speed, acceleration, and the disabled safety systems in the moments before impact. The charges reflect the severity of the incident, with second-degree manslaughter carrying potential sentences of 7 to 15 years in prison. The substantial bail amounts set by the court reflect both the severity of the charges and potential flight risk considerations.
Broader Impact
A family member of one of the victims has channeled grief into advocacy efforts, meeting with state senators in Albany to push for legislative changes regarding reckless driving penalties. “We’re trying to change that [the law] up in Albany as well,” they said, adding “I’m not going to stop at that.” The family is encouraging drivers to slow down in honor of the victims, while another family member emphasized the responsibility that comes with operating a vehicle: “When you’re driving a vehicle, it’s serious. You’re responsible for other people. You’re responsible for the people around you. You’re responsible for the people in your car.”
The case highlights concerns raised by DA Donnelly about illegal street racing culture, particularly among young men who “don’t fully comprehend the possibility of an accident and death.” She noted that until people stop racing on public roads, similar tragedies will likely continue. Family members described one of the victims as someone who was always first to help others in emergencies, including pulling people from overturned vehicles in separate incidents, making the circumstances of her death particularly tragic for those who knew her generous spirit.
One family member carries a memorial keepsake daily as a way of staying connected to their lost loved one, while each family member carries something to keep the victims’ memories close. “We have to live without them for the rest of our lives,” said one family member, who demands accountability: “He was driving the vehicle. His foot was on the gas. He chose to do it. He chose to drive the speed that he was driving. He needs to be held accountable and responsible.”