Hirji sentenced to 3 and a half to 10 and and a half years in prison

Teri West
Areefeen Hirji, 21, of Muttontown, was sentenced to prison two years after his involvement in a fatal car race. (Photo courtesy of Nassau County District Attorney's office)

Areefeen Hirji was sentenced to three and a half to 10 and a half years in prison Tuesday for his involvement in a car race that resulted in the death of a Manhasset man.

The sentence comes after five convictions in December, one of which, second-degree manslaughter, accounts for the maximum sentence of 10 and a half years, according to a spokesman for the Nassau County District’s Attorney’s office.

After his conviction, the office had said the Muttontown resident faced up to 22 years in prison.

Hirji’s co-defendant, Jonnathan Santos of Manhasset, is due for sentencing March 5.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in October.

Santos and Hirji were racing eastbound on the Long Island Expressway Feb. 23, 2017 approximately 11:48 p.m., according to the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said the two cars, a 2015 BMW and a 2017 Honda Accord, crashed at Exit 44 when they were both traveling at more than 120 mph.

The BMW, which Santos was driving, spun and hit a guardrail and pickup truck, according to the attorney’s office.

One passenger, Gianfranco Peralta, 19, was ejected and died at the scene. The two others were treated for minor injuries.

Santos was arrested at the scene, prosecutors said, and Hirji fled.

Hirji went to the 2nd Precinct two days later and said that he was not the driver, according to the district attorney’s office. On Feb. 25. 2017, he admitted to being the driver and was arrested.

“The defendant was racing at speeds of more than 120 miles an hour on the Long Island Expressway when he collided with another racer and killed a 19-year old passenger in that car,” District Attorney Madeline Singas said. “The defendant fled the scene of the crime and later tried to intimidate witnesses to place the blame on someone else for the fatal crash. Street racing endangers countless innocent motorists and pedestrians, and my office is committed to holding racers accountable for their dangerous actions.

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