Bay Shore Man Pleads Guilty To Deadly Christmas Day Crash: DA

BAY SHORE, NY — A 19-year-old who was charged with the death of a Central Islip man in a Christmas Day crash has pleaded guilty, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Tuesday.

Jonnathan Zhicaypincay, of Bay Shore, was charged in December 2021 with second-degree manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs, or alcohol in drugs aggravated vehicular homicide. He pleaded guilty to the charges in court before Honorable Stephen Braslow.

On December 25, 2021, at about 2:44 p.m., Zhicaypincay, who was driving a 2004 Honda Pilot, struck two pedestrians walking in front of an Islip apartment building, located at 2455 Union Avenue in Islip.

One of the pedestrians, Luis Trujillo, 67, of Central Islip, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The second pedestrian was taken to South Shore University Hospital with serious injuries, police said.

When officers arrived to the scene, they observed that Zhicaypincay had bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, was unsteady on his feet and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, according to court documents.

Zhicaypincay, who was 18 at the time, was taken to South Shore University Hospital, where he consented to a blood test and made oral admissions to both drinking and taking drugs, prosecutors said.

While at the precinct for processing and during a search, a quantity of cocaine was recovered from his wallet. An analysis of Zhicaypincay’s blood indicated his blood alcohol content was .13%. with evidence of recent use of cannabis and cocaine in his system as well, prosecutors said.

“This defendant has admitted that he was drunk and high when he horrifically ran over two
innocent victims,” said Tierney. “While this admission of guilt cannot bring back Mr. Trujillo nor
fully undo the damage he caused the other victim, we were able to get a small measure of justice
for both of them and now he faces prison time.”

Zhicaypincay is due back in court for sentencing on Nov. 17.