A Queens man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for driving the wrong way down Clearview Expressway and injuring two people. Joseph Lee, 30, was convicted of attempted assault in the first degree, along with other charges, after an incident that DA Melinda Katz described as terrorizing other drivers. According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, Lee entered the expressway on the morning of January 18, 2023, causing chaos and accidents as he steered his minivan deliberately into oncoming traffic.
During the trial, it was revealed that Lee had taken DMT, a potent hallucinogen, prior to his dangerous drive. Witnesses described frightening moments as they swerved to avoid the oncoming minivan. In her statement, Katz emphasized the toll on those affected, saying, "Two motorists were badly hurt and still have not fully recovered," as qouted in a press release. Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Hartofilis sentenced Lee to six years for each count of assault in the second degree; however, the sentences will run concurrently.
The jury deliberated for about three hours after the trial began on June 5, with the verdict handed down on June 18. Lee's behavior continued to be erratic even after the crashes when he reportedly ran down the expressway and confronted one of the victims with an aggressive stance, asking, "You want to fight?". These details came together to form a strong case against him, which was prosecuted by the District Attorney's Vehicular Homicide Unit, as reported by the Queens District Attorney's Office.
Lee told police that his intention was to hurt people, which led to his conviction on charges of attempted and actual assault. The statement from Katz's office revealed the disturbing confession where Lee expressed feeling "liberated" by his actions. The case was successfully led by Assistant District Attorney Vivian Gonzalez, with oversight from higher-ranking officials within the Homicide Bureau including Assistant District Attorney John Kosinski, and Deputy Bureau Chief Jonathan Selkowe.
