Grand Jury Indicts Medford Woman on Vehicular Manslaughter Charge

A Medford woman will be charged with vehicular manslaughter stemming from a fatal New Year's Eve under a grand jury indictment to be unsealed in a Riverhead court Monday, according to court records. 

Police have said Elizabeth Peacock, 45, was driving under the influence of drugs when she struck a mother and daughter, who were standing behind a car parked on the shoulder of Horseblock Road, near Maine Avenue, in Medford. 

The daughter, Maria Galeas, 40, of Medford, died later at the hospital. 

Toxicology results established the presence of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and other medications in Peacock’s system, according to officials. 

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota is expected to announce the indictment Monday morning. Robert Clifford, a spokesman with the DA's office, did not specify what the charges in the indictment entail, but according to information posted on the New York State Unified Court System website, Peacock will face a top charge of first degree vehicular manslaughter, a class C felony that carries a prison term of up to 15 years.

Peacock, who will be arraigned on the upgraded charges Monday at Suffolk County Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to the arrest charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs earlier this month. Peacock has not posted $150,000 cash bail.

Peacock will be arraigned on the same day Spota an aggravated vehicular homicide charge against a Ronkonkoma man accused of driving high on prescription drugs when he rear-ended a pickup truck, killing a 5-year-old West Islip boy inside.