An 18-year-old Long Islander has been indicted on manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges in connection with a 2014 street racing crash that killed five of his friends, all teenagers, and seriously injured two adults, prosecutors said Thursday.
The grand jury also charged Cory Gloe, of Farmingdale, with assault, reckless driving and reckless endangerment. Thirteen of the charges in the 17-count indictment are felony offenses.
It is alleged that just after midnight on May 10, 2014, Gloe, then 17 and possessing a full driver’s license, was leaving the Airport Plaza Mall parking lot on Route 110 in Farmingdale after allegedly participating in organized street races on the streets behind the mall. He was driving a 2008 Toyota Scion with four passengers.
At the intersection of Conklin Street and Route 110, Gloe stopped at a red light in the lane next to his friend, 17-year-old Tristan Reichle, who was driving a 2001 Nissan Sentra with four passengers.
Gloe allegedly challenged Reichle to a race several times. When the traffic signal turned green, the two cars crossed Route 110 and were racing each other westbound on Conklin Street when Reichle lost control, crossed the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic and violently impacted a 2011 GMC Terrain occupied by two adults, prosecutors said.
Reichle and his passengers, 18-year-old Jesse Romero, 14-year-old Carly Lonnborg, 15-year-old Noah Francis and 17-year-old Cody Talanian, were killed in the crash. The two adults in the GMC Terrain were badly hurt; they've each undergone multiple surgeries and are still recovering, authorities said.
Gloe faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge against him. The judge suspended his license following his arraignment Thursday and he was freed on $50,000 ball.
Defense attorney Stephen LaMagna called the crash "unbelievably tragic'' and noted Gloe's vehicle was not involved in the accident.
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"Unfortunately nothing will alleviate the pain or bring back the lives lost in this senseless crash," Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a statement. "We owe it to our kids and everyone on our roads to remember that speed and racing kill."
