DA: Lynbrook Man Gets Max Sentence for 12th DWI

A Lynbrook man received a maximum prison sentence for driving drunk and striking an elderly couple on their way to dinner, according to the Nassau County District Attorney's office Friday.

Sean Crane, 51, of Lynbrook, pleaded guilty in October to felony drunk driving and a battery of other charges in exchange for his prison sentence. He will be behind bars for at least five years and 10 months and could be in prison for up to 14 years, said the DA.

Crane has been convicted of driving while intoxicated a total of 12 times since 1981, with six incidents in Nassau County and six in Suffolk, according to the DA. He has served time in prison twice for those convictions in upstate New York.

On the evening of May 26, 2012, Crane was drunk when he attempted to drive his girlfriend's 2011 Nissan Juke in Oceanside, officials said. At 6:15 p.m., he struck a 76-year-old Merrick woman and her 78-year-old husband as they crossed Merrick Road hand-in-hand, reports said.

Crane reportedly swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting them, but ended up striking the female victim with the side mirror. The impact broke her wrist and threw her into her husband, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon and a head wound that needed nine stitches. The woman also sustained a road rash to her legs.

Crane pulled over immediately and ran back to the scene, where he was arrested by Fourth Precinct officers and was found to have a .20 BAC after the collision.

Crane's entire indictment included felony aggravated DWI, two counts of felony DWI, first-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, first, second, and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, two counts of third-degree assault, reckless driving, and second-degree reckless endangerment.