An Aquebogue man will face upgraded charges after an accident that killed two in Nassau County, police said.
Robert Beodeker, 50, surrendered to state police investigators and was arrested and charged Friday with aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony, two counts of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, a felony, two counts of criminally negligent homicide, a felony, and driving while ability impaired, a misdemeanor, New York State Police said.
The charges, police said, stem from a March 4 accident in which Beodeker was found to have methamphetamine and amphetamine in his blood at the time of a double fatal accident.
According to a Newday report, Beodeker pleaded not guilty; Nassau District Court Judge David McAndrews set bail at $1 million bond or $500,000 cash bail. Beodeker is due back in court March 19 and, if convicted of the top charge against him, faces up to 25 years in prison, Newsday said.
The accident occurred on the Meadowbrook State Parkway southbound at the interchange with the Southern State Parkway, police said.
According to police, Beodeker was driving a GMC pick-up southbound, near the Southern State Parkway, when he struck a disabled Nissan Maxima which had become disabled and stopped on the white hazard markings.
Beodeker, police said, failed to merge and instead drove onto the hazardous markings, striking the disabled vehicle as well as both victims.
Both John Elder, 76, of Freeport, and Edward Ross, 65, of North Bellmore, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Consent for a blood sample was given and a sample was taken, police said.
After the accident occurred, it was revealed that Beodeker had a suspended New York State drivers' license.
Beodeker was initially arrested at the time for aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree and reckless driving, both misdemeanors, police said; a medical examiner's toxicology report revealed impairment due to drugs.
The vehicular crimes unit of the Nassau County District Attorney's office directed the upgraded charges due to the on going investigation and toxicology results.
Meanwhile, police are investigating anonymous threats of violence left on Beodeker's office phone of after the double fatal accident.
On Tuesday, Southampton Town Police Detective Sergeant Lisa Costa said authorities are investigating an anonymous message left on the office phone of Robert Beodeker, who was charged last week after the fatal accident.
The message was left on Beodeker's phone at Suffolk County Community College, where he is the Campus Associate Dean for Student Services at Suffolk County Community College's eastern campus, and reported by his administrative staff.
"The anonymous message does not directly threaten the dean, but was left by a male caller who makes reference to the dean's family and his wishes to see them harmed," Costa said.
Threats of violence were made against Beodeker's family, including his wife and children, Costa said, but not Beodeker specifically.
"To date, the dean has not been available for follow up," Costa said.
He was also actively involved in local theater and president of the North Fork Community Theatre in Mattituck, but resigned after the accident.
Beodeker was not immediately available for comment. A request for comment by Suffolk County Community College was not immediately returned.
