Scott K. Berberian Killed in NY Thruway Crash in Stafford; Patrick J. Hastings Charged with Vehicular Manslaughter, DWI

Deadly Chain Reaction: Scott K. Berberian Ejected, Killed as Impaired Driver on Thruway Faces Vehicular Manslaughter Charge

STAFFORD, N.Y. – The New York State Thruway is the spine of upstate travel – a four-lane ribbon of asphalt that carries thousands of drivers daily between Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, and beyond. But on a cool Friday evening in the town of Stafford, that familiar highway became a scene of utter devastation. A rear-end collision, a violent overturn, and a life snatched away in an instant have left one family shattered and another man facing felony charges.

Scott K. Berberian, 56, of North Syracuse, was killed Friday night after the pickup truck he was driving was struck from behind by a BMW whose driver, troopers say, was impaired. The impact sent Berberian’s GMC pickup rolling across the eastbound lanes, ejecting him onto the pavement. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the BMW, Patrick J. Hastings, 67, of Churchville, walked away without a scratch. But he did not walk free. After failing field sobriety tests and providing a breath sample that registered the legal limit of 0.08% blood alcohol content, Hastings was arrested and charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and multiple traffic violations.

What began as a routine Friday evening commute ended in tragedy – and a reminder that on the highway, one bad decision can erase a lifetime.

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The Crash: What Troopers Say Happened

According to a detailed news release from New York State Police Trooper James O’Callaghan, emergency dispatchers began receiving calls around 8:53 p.m. on Friday reporting a serious crash on Interstate 90 eastbound in the town of Stafford, Genesee County. The location is approximately 35 miles west of Rochester, near exit 48.

Troopers arrived to find a grisly scene. A GMC pickup truck lay on its roof in the center median, its roof crushed, windows blown out. Approximately 100 yards away, a black BMW sedan had come to rest against the guardrail, its front end heavily damaged. Debris – shards of glass, chunks of plastic, personal belongings – was scattered across two lanes.

Witnesses told investigators that the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane when it slammed into the rear of the GMC pickup, which was in the right lane. The force of the collision pushed the pickup sideways, causing it to flip multiple times. The driver, later identified as Scott K. Berberian, was not wearing a seatbelt, according to preliminary reports, and was thrown from the vehicle.

Emergency medical personnel pronounced Berberian dead at 9:07 p.m. No other passengers were in either vehicle.

The driver of the BMW, Patrick J. Hastings, was standing outside his car when troopers arrived. He appeared uninjured but, according to the criminal complaint, exhibited “red, watery eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.”

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The Investigation: Signs of Impairment

Trooper James O’Callaghan, the public information officer for State Police Troop T (which covers the Thruway), stated that Hastings was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tests. He reportedly failed the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, and one-leg-stand tests.

Hastings was then administered a preliminary breath test at the scene, which indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.08% – the legal limit for driving while intoxicated in New York State. A subsequent chemical breath test back at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office produced the same result.

While 0.08% is the threshold for a DWI charge, any amount of alcohol combined with a fatal crash can elevate the charge to vehicular manslaughter. Under New York Penal Law Section 125.12, second-degree vehicular manslaughter applies when a person operates a motor vehicle in a manner that causes the death of another person while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is a Class D felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison.

“Impairment doesn’t require a person to be falling-down drunk,” said Mark Fiore, a former prosecutor and now a defense attorney in Buffalo, who is not involved in the case. “At 0.08%, the law presumes impairment. And when that impairment leads to a death, the consequences are severe.”

Hastings was also charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) and several vehicle and traffic law violations, including following too closely and unsafe lane change. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Genesee County Jail for centralized arraignment.

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The Victims: Scott K. Berberian of North Syracuse

For those who knew him, Scott K. Berberian was not a headline or a police report number. He was a man of quiet strength, a longtime resident of North Syracuse, a suburb just north of the city of Syracuse. Neighbors describe him as a friendly face who waved from his driveway, a man who loved classic cars, and a dedicated employee at a local HVAC company where he had worked for nearly two decades.

Berberian was born in 1968 in Syracuse and attended Cicero-North Syracuse High School. After graduation, he served briefly in the Army National Guard before beginning a career in heating and cooling installation. Colleagues say he was meticulous, patient, and the kind of technician who would explain every detail of a repair so a customer would understand.

“Scott never raised his voice,” said Danny Mastropietro, a coworker at AirCare Heating & Cooling. “Even on a 90-degree day when a compressor blew, he’d just smile and say, ‘Well, let’s get to work.’ He was the rock of our crew.”

Berberian was also an avid outdoorsman. He spent weekends fishing on Oneida Lake and deer hunting in the Adirondacks. But his greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Patricia Berberian, and two adult children, Michael and Jessica. His daughter Jessica, a nursing student, said her father had called her just hours before the crash.

“He called to ask how my exam went,” she told a local reporter through tears. “He said he was proud of me. That was the last thing I ever heard from him. I keep playing that voicemail over and over.”

The Berberian family has requested privacy but released a brief statement through the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office: “Scott was a good man. He didn’t deserve to die alone on a highway. We are heartbroken and angry. We ask for prayers and for justice.”

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The Accused: Patrick J. Hastings of Churchville

Patrick J. Hastings, 67, is a retired teacher from Churchville, a small town west of Rochester. Public records show he taught social studies at Churchville-Chili Central School District for 30 years, retiring in 2015. Former students describe him as a “tough but fair” educator who coached junior varsity soccer.

Hastings has no prior criminal record in New York State, according to a search of court databases. His neighbors in Churchville expressed shock at the news. “Pat is the last person I’d expect to be in trouble like this,” said Ruth Ann Myers, who lives across the street. “He’s always gardening, walking his dog. He drinks a beer now and then, but who doesn’t?”

But the charges suggest otherwise. In addition to vehicular manslaughter, Hastings was charged with driving while intoxicated. Under New York’s Leandra’s Law, even a first-time DWI can carry significant penalties if a death is involved. If convicted of the top count, Hastings faces a minimum of 1 to 3 years in prison and a maximum of 5 to 15 years, depending on aggravating factors.

At his arraignment on Saturday morning via video link from the Genesee County Jail, Hastings appeared disheveled and spoke only to confirm his name. He was denied bail due to the severity of the charges and the risk of flight – though his attorney argued that a 67-year-old retired teacher with no prior record posed no danger. The judge ordered him held pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Thursday.

Hastings’ court-appointed attorney, Sarah Miller, declined to comment on the specifics of the case but said, “Mr. Hastings is presumed innocent. We look forward to reviewing the evidence, including the accuracy of the breathalyzer and the reconstruction report.”

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The Aftermath: A Family’s Grief, a Community’s Anger

News of the crash spread quickly through North Syracuse, a tight-knit community of about 7,000 people. By Saturday morning, a small memorial had appeared outside Berberian’s home on South Bay Road – flowers, a Syracuse Mets cap, and a handwritten sign that read: “Scott – You Pulled Over for Everyone. Now Rest.”

At the crash site on I-90 eastbound near mile marker 380, a state police cruiser remained parked for hours as reconstruction teams measured skid marks and photographed the roadway. Traffic was diverted for nearly five hours, backing up for miles.

The Genesee County District Attorney’s Office has assigned a senior prosecutor to the case. “This is a tragic loss of life that was entirely preventable,” said DA Kevin Finnell in a brief statement. “We will pursue justice for Scott Berberian and his family.”

Meanwhile, advocates for highway safety have seized on the crash to renew calls for stricter DWI penalties and greater public awareness. “Every year, thousands of people die because someone chose to drive after drinking,” said Lauren Michaels, a regional director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). “Scott Berberian didn’t have a choice. Patrick Hastings did. That’s the difference.”

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The Legal Road Ahead: What Happens Next

Hastings is scheduled to appear in Stafford Town Court for a felony hearing. Because vehicular manslaughter is a felony, the case will likely be bound over to Genesee County Court, where a grand jury will consider an indictment.

If indicted, Hastings could face a trial – or he could accept a plea deal. Given his lack of criminal history, prosecutors might offer a reduced charge, such as criminally negligent homicide, which carries a lower sentence. However, the public nature of the case and the fact that Berberian was ejected and killed could push prosecutors to seek the maximum.

The Berberian family has not yet filed a civil lawsuit, but wrongful death claims are common in such cases. New York’s “dram shop” laws could also come into play if Hastings was served alcohol at a bar or restaurant before the crash – though no such information has been released.

For now, Patrick J. Hastings remains in custody. His driver’s license has been suspended pending prosecution. And Scott K. Berberian – a husband, father, coworker, and friend – is gone.

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A Final Farewell

On Monday, a private visitation will be held for Berberian at the New Comer Cremations & Funerals in North Syracuse. A public memorial service is planned for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at North Syracuse Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the New York State Police Survivors’ Fund, which supports families of crash victims.

His daughter Jessica spoke one last time about her father: “He was driving home from a routine job. He wasn’t speeding. He wasn’t drunk. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time because someone else made a terrible choice. I want people to remember that. And I want Patrick Hastings to remember it, too.”

As the sun sets over the Thruway, the wreckage has been cleared. The traffic flows again. But for the Berberian family, the road ahead is long and dark.

Rest in peace, Scott K. Berberian. You deserved to come home.