Patchogue man sentenced in crash that killed custodian

A Patchogue man was sentenced Monday to 3 to 9 years in prison for a January 2008 car crash that killed a school custodian on his way home from work.

Gary Spinelli, 54, had pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter. He originally had been charged with driving while intoxicated after the accident that killed Vincent LaTorre, 50, of Patchogue.

Our sentence began Jan. 24, 2008, and there is no end to our sentence," LaTorre's wife, Donna, said in court before State Supreme Court Justice Robert Doyle announced Spinelli's sentence.

"I'm here to be a reminder that you took someone very loved by us and [who] can never be replaced," she said.

LaTorre, a custodian at Bellport High School, was driving on South Country Road near Hedges Road in East Patchogue at 11:38 p.m. when Spinelli crossed a double-yellow line and crashed into LaTorre's car, police said at the time. LaTorre's car flipped over, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Spinelli, who was hospitalized with chest trauma, had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, police said then.

Monday, dressed in a suit and tie as he appeared in court, Spinelli said he was "very, very sorry" and apologized to LaTorre's family.