Holtsville man charged with manslaughter in death of Manorville pedestrian

A Holtsville man has been arrested and charged with manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and other counts for allegedly hitting a pedestrian in Manorville in late August, authorities said.

Campbell Smith Jr., 58, allegedly struck and killed Michael Barnhardt, 54, of Manorville, after he was seen drinking at a bar, according to a news release from Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Smith had initially been charged with a single count of leaving the scene of an incident with a fatality.   

Tierney said Smith was speeding and driving recklessly in his red 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 on County Road 111 shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 31. When he drove into the center turning lane “to cut around traffic,” he struck Barnhardt, who was standing in the lane while waiting to finish crossing the street, the release said.

Barnhardt was pronounced dead at the scene, Tierney said. Smith fled and failed to report the fatal crash.

Witnesses who spotted the Ram on Sunrise Highway before the crash reported that Smith was “driving aggressively … tailgating, as well as cutting the line of traffic on the exit ramp waiting to turn onto Route 111,” the district attorney’s office said.

Police found Smith’s truck at a body shop, discovered damage to the hood and upper grill “consistent with the crime scene” and seized it, the release said. Detectives also learned that Smith drank  "multiple alcoholic beverages" over a six-hour period at a Hampton Bays establishment the day of the crash, the DA's office said.

Suffolk police arrested Smith on Sept. 11 and charged him with leaving the scene of an incident with a fatality, Newsday reported at the time. He pleaded not guilty to that initial charge the following day.

On Wednesday, Smith pleaded not guilty before acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead to charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, tampering with physical evidence, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, according to the district attorney’s office. Pilewski ordered Smith held on $30,000 cash bail, $60,000 bond or $300,000 partially secured bond, the release said. He is scheduled to return to court Jan. 20.

Brian Griffin, Smith’s defense attorney, did not immediately return a telephone message left at his office.