James Ryan Ruled Competent To Stand Trial for Fatal DWI in Wantagh

James Ryan of New Hyde Park, who allegedly fatally hit 19-year-old Matthew Scarpati of Dix Hills with his motorcycle on July 20, 2009 in Wantagh, was found competent by Judge Jerald S. Carter yesterday to stand trial.

Ryan’s attorney Edward Galison had contested his client’s with Judge Carter earlier this month. Galison had explained that Ryan can't really communicate with his lawyer and has both short-term and long-term memory loss as a result of the crash that killed Scarpati. Ryan doesn't remember the accident other than because of things other people have told him about it, according to Galison.

Ryan, 45, is said to have been riding his motorcycle while intoxicated on the Wantagh State Parkway when he hit Scarpati, according to prosecutors. At the time of the accident, Scarpati was changing his bicycle tire on the side of the parkway just north of the Goose Neck Bridge, according to authorities.

The charges against Ryan include: second degree manslaughter, second degree vehicular manslaughter, second degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving and two courts of driving while intoxicated, according to prosecutors. He could face up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted of these charges, prosecutors said.

A date for the start of Ryan's trial has not been set yet, according to Chris Munzing, a spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. Ryan is scheduled to be back in court for a conference with prosecutors on Feb. 7.

The summer 2009 fatal accident prompted calls by local elected officials including State Sen. Charles J. Fushillo Jr., R-Merrick, and Assemblyman David McDonough, R-North Merrick to have the Department of Transportation install a guardrail along the Wantagh Parkway bike path near where the tragic incident occurred. A for the Wantagh Parkway guardrail project that was attended by members of the Scarpati family took place on June 6, 2010.