Garnerville man accused of killing teen in hit-and-run gets 1-3 years in prison: Rockland County DA

A Garnerville man who authorities say was driving with a suspended license and left the scene of a fatal crash that killed a teenager last July now faces serving one to three years in prison.

Patrick Sharkey, 35, was offered the sentence Tuesday by a Rockland County court judge, according to the Rockland County Prosecutor’s Office. Online court records show the judge presiding over the case is Anne Bianchi.

Prosecutors say Sharkey was driving without the required interlock device when he fatally struck Dariel Rivera, 18, on Route 303 in Central Nyack while the teen was riding an electric scooter to work at FedEx.

Prosecutors say they are recommending a maximum sentence behind bars of 2 1/3 to seven years in prison.

Sharkey has pleaded not guilty and is free on $150,000 bail. He is due back in court on June 4.

The victim’s father, Sam Rivera, says his family is deeply unhappy with the proposed sentence.

“We feel disappointed by this plea agreement that does not justify the driver’s negligence,” Rivera says. “(We don’t know) why a stronger plea was not offered or, even worse, why (there may not be) a fair trial with all the evidence against the driver.”

Rivera says he is championing the passage of legislation in his son’s name to make a difference in how traffic crimes are prosecuted and prevent tragedies like the one that happened to his son.

“We miss him terribly,” Rivera said.