MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a College Point man was arraigned today on grand jury indictment charges related to a fatal crash that took place on April 7, when the defendant allegedly struck and killed an Uber driver who was stopped on the Long Island Expressway.
Bonifacio Enriquez, 35, was arraigned today before Acting Supreme Court Justice Terence Murphy on charges including Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree (a C felony), Vehicular Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree (a D felony), Assault in the 2nd Degree (a D violent felony), two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor) and Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor).
The defendant pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on August 2. Bail was continued at $300,000 bond or $250,000 cash, license suspension, and his passport has been surrendered to the court. If convicted on the top count, the defendant faces a maximum of 5 to 15 years in prison.
“This defendant is charged with driving recklessly while drunk and killing an innocent man, Roohul Ameen, while he was stopped on the road,” said DA Singas. “A driver must be alert and ready for anything on our busy Nassau County roads, but this defendant allegedly chose to take the wheel while intoxicated, and we will hold him accountable for the tragic consequences of his recklessness.”
DA Singas said that at approximately 2:05 a.m. on April 7, victim Roohul Ameen, 43, was driving a black 2013 Toyota Camry eastbound on the Long Island Expressway near exit 41 in the HOV lane. The front bumper of the victim’s car became dislodged. Ameen stopped and exited his vehicle, and attempted to reattach the bumper.
Enriquez, who was allegedly intoxicated that night, was also driving eastbound in the HOV lane on the LIE in a gold 2010 Ford Escape with two passengers.
As the defendant approached the victim’s vehicle, he allegedly tried to pass the vehicle on the left, attempting to drive between the Camry and the concrete median. The Escape struck the victim’s vehicle on the rear driver’s side panel, continued forward and allegedly struck the victim, who was thrown into the left lane and killed.
The defendant was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department and later arraigned at Nassau University Medical Center.
Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Casa and Patrick Brand of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau are prosecuting the case. Enriquez is represented by Todd Greenberg.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.