Melissa McKiski was stopped by police two miles from fatal crash
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Florida woman was arraigned on an 11-count grand jury indictment today for an October fatal hit and run crash that killed a Queens cyclist.
Melissa McKiski, 22, of Venice, Florida, was arraigned today before Acting Supreme Court Justice William O’Brien on charges of:
• 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)• Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting (a D felony)
• Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor)• Two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence of Alcohol (unclassified misdemeanors)
• Operating a Motor Vehicle while Impaired by Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor)• Operating a Motor Vehicle while Impaired by Combined Use of Drugs or of Alcohol and any Drug or Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor)
• Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor)• Failure to Exercise Due Care in violation of VTL 1146(A) (a traffic infraction)
The Defendant's bail was continued at $50,000 cash or bond, with the conditions that she not apply for a passport or leave the jurisdictions of Nassau, Suffolk or Queens counties without permission of the Court. The defendant is due back in court on Feb. 23. McKiski faces a maximum of up to five to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top charge. “A young man, with his entire life in front of him, was taken from his family and friends due to the alleged drunk driving of this defendant,” DA Singas said. “Fleeing the scene of crashes is far too common in our state and this incident is another reminder that we must strengthen our laws against defendants in fatal hit and run collisions.”
DA Singas said that on Oct. 1, 2015, at approximately 12:35 a.m., the defendant was operating a gray Hyundai Santa Fe with Florida license plates driving westbound on Old Country Road, west of Glen Cove Road, when she veered out of the middle lane into the right lane and allegedly struck a bicyclist with the front passenger side of her vehicle.
The victim, 22-year old Charles Velasquez of Bellerose, Queens, was riding with two other cyclists, and his bicycle was thrown into the parking lot of a nearby shopping center. The crash left a debris field including parts of McKiski’s car and the defendant fled the scene. The other bicyclists called 911 and McKiski was apprehended at Herricks Road and Helen Road in Mineola by members of the Nassau County Police Department.
The victim was pronounced dead at Winthrop University Hospital at approximately 4:30 a.m.
Assistant District Attorney Katie Zizza of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case. McKiski is represented by John Carman, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.