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Drunk L.I. motorcyclist killed man, 19: Nassau DA

NEW HYDE PARK — A New Hyde Park man faces three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a drunk-driving incident, the Nassau County district attorney’s office announced.

James Ryan, 46, lost control of his 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle at approximately 8 p.m. July 20, 2009, as he was driving between 85 and 100 mph along the Wantagh State Parkway, the DA’s office said.

He struck and killed Matthew Scarpati as the 19-year-old was changing a flat tire on his bicycle on the pathway adjacent to the parkway, according to the DA’s office.

Ryan had a blood-alcohol reading of .10 percent 2 1/2 hours after the crash, from which he suffered severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury, the DA’s office said.

He was deemed competent to stand trial in February, and on Tuesday he plead guilty to manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment in the second degree and reckless driving in exchange for a promised sentence of three to nine years in prison, the DA’s office said.

He will be sentenced Oct. 19.