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Off-duty EMT gets 5 years for fatal drunken driving crash

The 24-year-old had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit; the prosecutor said an EMT “should know better”

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A part-time EMT who killed a man while driving drunk in 2014 was sentenced to five years in prison.

NJ.com reported EMT Jeremy Steinman had a blood-alcohol level almost twice the legal limit. Steinman was driving north when he swerved into the southbound lane to pass a car and then swerved back into the northbound lane. Heriberto Lithgow, 21, was getting into his car when Steinman hit the vehicle.

Lithgow was unconscious and had severe injuries to his legs and head. He was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“I feel so unbelievably terrible about everything,” said Steinman. “I can’t apologize enough. I never expect forgiveness from the family. I hope that I can help society, let people know what happened. I just hope they can find closure someday.”

Nidara Roark, the Hudson County assistant prosecutor, said the crime was worse because it was committed by an EMT.

“This defendant is an EMT who presumably has seen injuries, seen tragic accidents and has seen what can happen when a person drives drunk,” Rourk said. “In essence it boggles the mind why this particular defendant, of all people, an EMT ... should know better.”

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