Apology to victims' kin in fatal crash

A Centereach woman who was drunk and high when she crashed in Central Islip, killing two friends, apologized to the victims' families Tuesday at her sentencing.

Taylor Nolte, 20, faced Suffolk County Judge Martin Efman in a Riverhead courtroom as she addressed the families of the two victims, Kelly Mallazzo and Kenyen Gaskins.

"I know that no matter what I say, I will never bring them back," Nolte said of Mallazzo and Gaskins. "I'm so sorry that I robbed you of future precious moments. I'm so sorry I caused so much pain."

Efman then sentenced Nolte to 4 1/2 to 13 1/2 years in prison for felony charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.

Last month, Nolte admitted in court she drank the caffeinated malt beverage Four Loko, smoked marijuana and took Ecstasy before the crash on Jan. 28, 2010. At her June court appearance, Nolte testified she was driving at a high rate of speed when she crashed her grandmother's Lexus into a tree.

Gaskins, 23, of Central Islip, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mallazzo, 18, of Hauppauge, was pronounced dead at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore shortly after the 4:45 a.m. crash. Nolte and two other male passengers were injured in the crash.

Before Nolte spoke, relatives of Gaskins and Mallazzo spoke directly to her as she stood with her attorney before Efman.

Kelly Mallazzo's sister Shannon, 25, reminded Nolte of when the pair were childhood friends. Nolte then burst into tears.

"You have sentenced my family to a lifetime of heartache," Shannon Mallazzo said.

Gaskins' mother, Sandra Gaskins, wore a homemade T-shirt to the hearing emblazoned with his picture and the phrase "R.I.P. Kenyen Gaskins."

Before the crash, court records say, a survivor asked Nolte to "chill out" because she was driving too fast.

Sandra Gaskins reminded Nolte of the friend's warning.

"Every day of your life," Sandra Gaskins said to Nolte, "I want you to see Kenyen and Kelly's face and hear the screams to stop the car."

When Nolte said she was sorry, Mallazzo's mother, Helen Mallazzo, said, "You should be."

A woman sitting in front of her turned and cursed, telling the crash victim's mother to be quiet. She was escorted out of the courtroom while Nolte wept and continued her statement.