Michael J. Hynes, former Port Washington schools superintendent, pleads guilty in connection with 2024 crash
Former Port Washington schools Superintendent Michael J. Hynes in court in Riverhead earlier this year. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Port Washington's former schools superintendent has pleaded guilty to a felony count of vehicular assault stemming from a Sayville crash last year that caused serious injuries to a motorcyclist.
Michael J. Hynes, 54, of Sayville, entered his plea Thursday before state Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins in Riverhead to one count of vehicular assault in the second degree, according to court records and Timothy Finnerty, a court spokesperson.
His sentencing is set for Feb. 3.
Hynes’ attorney, John Halverson, said his client is expected to be sentenced to five years of probation.
“He’s taking responsibility for his actions,” Halverson said.
Authorities have said that shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 24, Hynes was at the wheel of his 2019 Honda Civic, driving north on Railroad Avenue in Sayville on his way to pick up his daughter at the train station.
When Hynes tried to turn left on Depot Street, he crashed into a man on a southbound 2022 Harley-Davidson, authorities said. The motorcyclist, Alberto Fernandez, of Sayville, sustained a pelvic fracture and other serious injuries, and was taken to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, authorities said.
Hynes had minor injuries and was taken to the same hospital.
The former schools chief was initially charged with driving while intoxicated. He pleaded not guilty to that charge last year.
Halverson has said Hynes refused to take a preliminary breath test at the scene of the crash but later agreed to a blood test at the hospital. Prosecutors alleged Hynes' blood alcohol level was 0.09%, above the state's 0.08% legal threshold.
Hynes' charges were later upgraded and in February he pleaded not guilty to felony vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.
Hynes had previously worked as a school superintendent in the Patchogue-Medford and Shelter Island school districts. Shortly before the crash, he had announced his intention to step down from his role as Port Washington schools superintendent in December 2024 to pursue an opportunity in the private education sector and spend more time with his family, Newsday previously reported.
Hynes earned $352,421 last year, Newsday records show.
He left the district after the crash, and Christopher Shields, assistant superintendent of human resources and leadership development, was appointed acting superintendent of schools.
The district’s schools superintendent is now Gaurav Passi. A spokesman for the district declined to comment Friday on Hynes’ guilty plea.
Maura McDermott covers education. Since joining Newsday in 2012, she also has worked on the investigations team and covered real estate and the business of health care.
