Wrong-way I-684 Driver Arraigned for Vehicular Homicide

An Armonk man who was allegedly driving the wrong way on I-684 and caused the death of a Mount Kisco woman was arraigned Wednesday.

Zachary Tokson, 23, of Seymour Lane, faces the following charges:

• two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, class “B” Felonies,
• one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
• two counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies,
• two counts of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, class “E” Felonies,
• one count of Driving While Intoxicated Per Se, an Unclassified Misdemeanor,
• one count of Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified Misdemeanor,
• one count of Reckless Driving, an Unclassified Misdemeanor,
• three counts of Obedience to and Required Traffic-Control Devices, Violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law,
• one count of Driving Wrong Way, a Violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law

The defendant was allegedly driving a white Lexus SUV Dec. 13, 2015, around 5:49 a.m. northbound in the southbound lane of Interstate 684 in the Town of Bedford, according to Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty.

At mile marker 16.8, Tokson collided head on with Elena Lopez who was driving a gray Ford Focus station wagon. She was killed instantly.

Tokson suffered a laceration over his right eye. His female passenger ended up with broken ribs, a dislocated femur and lacerations to her liver and spleen. She survived the crash.

The police investigation found that Tokson had allegedly been drinking hours earlier in a Brewster bar.

He and his passenger left the bar and stopped for food and then proceeded south on I-684. They then stopped at the Bedford rest area to take a nap.

After waking, Tokson allegedly began driving the wrong way on I-684 for about 1.1 miles before the collision.

A search of his vehicle allegedly revealed a closed, empty bottle of whiskey and a mixed alcohol drink inside a closed soda bottle.

Tokson was arrested by the New York State Police.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and had bail set at $100,000, which remains in effect.

His next court appearance is set for July 20, 2016.

Photo credit: Courtesy.