DA: Manslaughter charge for drug-impaired mom in fatal crash

A Flanders woman accused of driving while impaired by drugs in a January crash that killed her 4-year-old daughter now faces a manslaughter charge, Suffolk officials said Tuesday.

Amy Wesolowski, 34, was released without bail Tuesday following arraignment on the upgraded charge.

Wesolowski was pulling her Toyota SUV out of her driveway on Flanders Road while high on amphetamines on Jan. 13 when she misjudged oncoming traffic and was struck by an oncoming SUV, Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney James Curtin said in Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead on Monday.

Her daughter, Gracelyn Perkowski, was in the backseat and the force of the impact threw the girl into the vehicle’s cargo area, Curtin said. Gracelyn died three days later of injuries suffered in the crash.

Wesolowski was initially charged with aggravated DWI, a felony, and other counts. A Suffolk County grand jury indicted Wesolowski on five counts, including a top charge of first-degree vehicular manslaughter, a Class C felony that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Other charges include violating Leandra's Law, a felony crime related to driving while intoxicated with a minor 15 or younger in the car, as well as operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, all misdemeanors.

She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Although Curtin requested Wesolowski, who he said has a prior felony conviction, be held on $50,000 bail, Judge Richard Ambro ordered her released without bail on the condition she stays in drug treatment.

She is due back in court May 3.

Wesolowski, her family members, and her Sag Harbor attorney Brian DeSesa were silent as they left the Riverhead courthouse on Tuesday.

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.