Bail Posted for Teen Driver in Fatal Southern State Crash

Joseph Beer, the 17-year-old driver and lone survivor of an October crash on the Southern State Parkway that killed four of his friends, was released from Nassau County Jail after posting bail Tuesday night.

Beer's lawyer Todd Greenberg told Newsday [paid link] that Beer was released after posting a $250,000 bond, a bail that was originally set at $2 million in November.

Greenberg then petitioned a Brooklyn appellate court to reduce that amount, noting that Beer turned himself in to authorities without incident, and that his parents were going to use their home to post bond.

Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said that at approximately 3:35 a.m. on Oct. 8, Beer was driving a 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI westbound on the Southern State at estimated speeds of more than 110 miles per hour when he lost control of the vehicle while coming over a rise in the roadway approaching exit 17N.

According to Rice, Beer was unable to negotiate a curve in the road at the bottom of the rise and left the roadway, crashing into the trees along the parkway. The impact of the crash ripped the vehicle in half, with the front half of the car located 20 feet away from the impact site.

Beer was charged in November with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter in the first degree, four counts of manslaughter in the second degree, four counts of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, driving while intoxicated-drugs, reckless endangerment in the second degree, reckless driving and unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

Beer, who will appear in court again on Friday, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.