Jan. 24 2018 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to four months shock incarceration probation for the 2015 Taconic State Parkway crash that killed four people, including his two-year-old daughter.

Nerim Sinanovic (DOB 2/13/82), who pled guilty in August of 2017 to four counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide, one count of Reckless Driving, and one count of Violation of Section 1180 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law (driving a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions), was sentenced today by Judge Barry Warhit. Under the terms of his sentence, Sinanovic will serve a four-month jail term followed by nearly five years of probation.

“Today’s sentencing ends a very sad chapter for two families brought together by tragedy,” said Scarpino. “It addresses the complexities of the evidence presented in this case, and honored the wishes of a family who chose forgiveness and compassion for a defendant who admitted his guilt.”

On Aug. 15, 2015 at approximately 2:50 p.m., Sinanovic was driving his BMW SUV northbound on the Taconic State Parkway in Yorktown. His wife was in the front passenger seat and their two young daughters were in the rear seats.

Sinanovic told New York State Police that while driving northbound on the Taconic State Parkway, he took his hands off the steering wheel, turned towards the back seat and steered with his knees. This caused the vehicle to veer to the right. His wife then grabbed the wheel and the vehicle veered left and continued up and over the dividing center median between the north and southbound lanes. 

The vehicle became airborne and crashed into a Toyota Camry which was traveling in the southbound lane. There were three family members in that vehicle at the time of the crash. Two sustained massive internal injuries and were pronounced dead within hours. The third person died on Sept. 15, 2015 at Westchester Medical Center.

Sinanovic’s children, a two year-old and a one-year-old who were both in child seats, were ejected from the vehicle. The two-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two additional vehicles, a Ford Escape and an Acura RSX were also struck. Those occupants sustained non-life threatening injuries.

A toxicology report indicated the Sinanovic had a level of Xanax in his system over therapeutic levels at the time of the crash.

Assistant District Attorney Christine O’Connor and Assistant District Attorney James Bavero of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.

Nerim Sinanovic

Nerim Sinanovic

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