Former Port Washington schools superintendent Michael J. Hynes sentenced in 2024 crash

Former Port Washington schools Superintendent Michael J. Hynes was sentenced to 5 years of probation on Tuesday stemming from a Sayville crash in 2024 that seriously injured a motorcyclist.

Hynes, 55, of Sayville, was sentenced by state Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins in Riverhead after he pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular assault in the second degree in December. Before the ruling, the judge said it was "apparent" Hynes was remorseful.

"I know you’re going to relive this in your head ... for the remainder of your life and I think that’s a punishment to a degree," Collins said.

Standing in a pinstripe suit with his hands crossed, Hynes said he was "humbled by this experience," after apologizing to the victim and his family, who were not in the courtroom.

"Moving forward I will live a life of full responsibility to make sure that something like this will never, ever happen again," he said in front of the judge.

Assistant District Attorney MacDonald Drane said the victim, Alberto Fernandez, and his family were "prepared to move forward" with the recommended sentence after several conversations.

Drane read a letter from Fernandez, in which the victim said he was not in the courtroom because "his body and mind" did not allow him to be there.

"His actions ended my life as it existed," Fernandez wrote of Hynes. "What remains is permanent damage. It was reckless conduct that treated another human being as expendable."

Fernandez, in the letter, said he was permanently disabled and lived with constant pain.

"The court sentence should reflect that while he will one day regain his freedom, I will live and die inside the consequences of his crime," Drane read from Fernandez's letter.

Authorities previously said Fernandez, of Sayville, sustained a pelvic fracture and other serious injuries in the crash and was taken to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore.

Police have said shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2024, Hynes was behind 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 attempted to turn left on Depot Street, he crashed into Fernandez, who was headed south on a 2022 Harley-Davidson, authorities said.

Hynes had minor injuries and was also taken to South Shore University Hospital. He was initially charged with driving while intoxicated, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Hynes’ attorney, John Halverson, previously 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, at 0.09%, was above the state's 0.08% legal threshold.

His charges were later upgraded and in February 2025, he pleaded not guilty to felony vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.

Hynes was set to leave his position as Port Washington superintendent just weeks before the crash, but departed earlier, leaving Christopher Shields, assistant superintendent of human resources and leadership development, as acting superintendent of schools. Hynes earned $352,421 his last year with the district, Newsday records show.

Gaurav Passi is now the district's chief.

After the sentencing, Halverson said his client has taken full responsibility for his actions.

"His heart and prayers go out to the victim," he said.