Drunk Bushwick Driver Faces Murder Charges After Woman Dies: DA

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — The drunk driver who slammed his car into a crowd of people, then crashed into a taxi while trying to escape, was charged with murder after one of his victims died from her injuries, prosecutors said.

Naquan Ricks, 23, was charged with murder, vehicular homicide and manslaughter for a drunken crash and getaway attempt in Bushwick on Sept. 4 that left nine people injured and one woman dead, police said.

Ricks drove his black 2007 Infiniti onto the sidewalk and rammed into a crowd of people near the corner of Halsey and Wilson streets around 5 a.m., prosecutors said.

Some people landed on the hood of his car, others were caught underneath it, but Ricks only stopped when he rammed into a fence and lost one wheel on his car, prosecutors said.

Instead of trying to help the people he’d just injured, Ricks threw the car into reverse and — with one person still resting on his hood — drove back onto the street, prosecutors said.

The person was finally thrown from the hood when Ricks sped toward Central Avenue on three wheels, said prosecutors.

Ricks careened down Halsey Street, T-boned a taxi, swerved onto Bushwick Avenue and only stopped when he slammed into a fence near Decatur and Schaefer streets and found himself surrounded by police, prosecutors said.

Emergency responders took Ricks to Woodhull Hospital where his blood alcohol level was measured at .17, two times the legal limit, prosecutors said.

Ricks’s victims were also treated at area hospitals for a broken ankle, a fractured arm and foot, an injured ankle that required a metal plate and eight screws, and pain, prosecutors said.

Lindsey Powell died from her injuries five days after she was hit by Ricks car, prosecutors said.

Ricks was arraigned Thursday n Brooklyn Criminal Court on a 42-count indictment and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, said prosecutors.

Ricks is due back in court on April 12, prosecutors said.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock