DRIVER INDICTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN CRASH THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE AFTER CAR STUNTS IN HUNTS POINT

 

Teen Girl and 21-Year-Old Man Died; Another Girl Critically Injured

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Queens man has been indicted for Manslaughter, Criminally Negligent Homicide and other related charges for speeding and recklessly driving his car, which crashed into a fuel truck, killing two people and critically injuring a third who were passengers in his vehicle. 

District Attorney Clark said, “Two people died and a third suffered life-threatening injuries because of the defendant’s alleged stunt driving on a Bronx street in the presence of numerous bystanders and other vehicles. His car careened into a fuel oil truck, and it is fortunate that more lives were not ruined.” 

District Attorney Clark said Enrique Lopez, 23, of Beach 28 Street, Queens, was arraigned today on two counts of second-degree Manslaughter, three counts of second-degree Assault, third-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, two counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, fourth-degree Criminal Mischief, second-degree Reckless Endangerment, Reckless Driving and Speed, Contests, Races before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Brenda Rivera who also suspended Lopez’s driver’s license at the People’s request. The defendant is due back in court on June 5, 2024.

According to the investigation, on January 21, 2024, at approximately 3:17 a.m., near Viele Avenue and Bryant Avenue in Huntsvehicle to defendant, driving a 2013 Chrysler 300 with three passengers inside, allegedly performed stunt driving maneuvers including spinning rapidly in circles near bystanders on the street and other vehicles, made rapid accelerations and turns, and then accelerated his motor vehicle to more than twice the legal speed limit of 25 miles per hour, before crossing the double yellow line and crashing sideways into a truck filled with fuel oil.

Sabrina Villagomez, 15, who was seated in the backseat of the car, was killed, along with Giovante Roberson, 21, who was seated in the front passenger seat. A 17-year-old who was seated in the rear of the vehicle was placed into a medically induced coma for injuries sustained from the crash. The investigation revealed that the defendant’s car contained a stolen Hellcat engine.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Officer Douglas Gerber of the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad for his work on the case. 

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.