Diamond Hawkins, 25, was a passenger in a new car her grandmother bought her when she was killed
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Roosevelt man was arraigned on indictment charges related to a fatal car crash in Hempstead on November 21, 2015, in which the defendant’s girlfriend was killed.
Horace Cummings, 33, was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Robert McDonald on charges of:
• Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony)
• Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a D felony)
• Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony)
• Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor)
• Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor)
• Driving while Ability Impaired by Combined Influence of Alcohol and Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor)
• Driving while Ability Impaired by Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor)
• Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle (a violation)
The defendant pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash. If convicted of the top count, the defendant faces up to 5 to 15 years in prison. He is due back in court on September 7.
“These allegations are disturbing to any Nassau driver or pedestrian, and heart-breaking for the family of Diamond Hawkins,” DA Singas said. “This defendant was allegedly unlicensed and impaired by drugs when he drove into oncoming traffic, crashed into an unsuspecting driver head-on, and tragically killed his young girlfriend. Nassau County will not tolerate this blatant disregard for life.”
DA Singas said that on November 21, 2015, at approximately 2:40 a.m., the defendant was operating a 2015 Nissan Altima in Hempstead. Cummings allegedly crossed over the center line on Front Street and the car collided head on with another vehicle driving eastbound. Cummings passenger and girlfriend, Diamond Hawkins, was killed in the collision. The victim had just turned 25 years old and was given the Altima as a birthday gift. The defendant suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver of the other car was uninjured.
The defendant surrendered to the Nassau County Police Department this morning.
Assistant District Attorney Stefanie Palma of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case. Cummings is represented by Michael Siff, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.