Motorcyclist in fatal crash called incompetent for trial

The man prosecutors say veered drunk off the Wantagh Parkway on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle killing a cyclist last year has been found incompetent to stand trial by two court-appointed psychologists because of brain injuries he sustained in the crash.

James J. Ryan, 44, of New Hyde Park, was arraigned Thursday on second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, drunken driving and other charges. In order to meet deadlines set under speedy trial laws, Judge Jerald Carter entered a not guilty plea on Ryan's behalf.

Prosecutor Matthew Lampert asked to have a forensic psychologist examine Ryan before his next court date March 19. If that psychologist disagrees Ryan is incompetent to stand trial, Carter could hold a hearing to decide the issue.

"I don't know what happened," Ryan, who is in a wheelchair, told Carter in court. "I don't know how it happened."

When Carter asked Ryan if he understood why he was in court, he said, "Not really. No."

"I'm having trouble remembering things," he continued. "If you tell me something, I might forget."

Ryan's attorney is Edward Galison of Mineola, who was with him in court.

Prosecutors said Matthew Scarpati, 19, of Dix Hills, was changing a flat tire on the Wantagh State Parkway bike path just north of the Goose Creek drawbridge in Wantagh July 21 when Ryan veered off the roadway, crossed onto the bike path and struck him.

Scarpati was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he died.

He had just completed his freshman year at the University of Buffalo, where he was majoring in economics, and was working as a doorman at a Manhattan apartment building for the summer, family members said. He hoped to become a lawyer.

Outside court Thursday, Scarpati's mother, Lynn, said she was not surprised Ryan was initially found incompetent to stand trial. But she said it's still difficult to accept since his injuries stem from the crash that killed her son.