21-Year-Old Killed in LIE Crash, Brooklyn Man Charged With Manslaughter

A 21-year-old Ronkonkoma man died following a crash on the Long Island Expressway early Saturday that occurred when he slowed down to avoid accident and his vehicle was struck by a drunk driver, police said.

According to police, George Ragotte was driving a 1992 BMW sedan eastbound on the LIE, east of Sunnyside Boulevard, in Plainview at 2:13 a.m. when he slowed down to avoid a sideswipe accident that had caused two vehicles to become disabled–one vehicle in the right lane and the other against the center divider.

Ragotte’s car was then struck by a 2012 BMW sedan driven by 34-year-old Raj Jadeja, of 105 Lexington Avenue in Brooklyn. Ragotte was extricated from his car and transported to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6 a.m.

Jadeja was arrested and charged with second degree manslaughter, second degree vehicular manslaughter, DWI and reckless driving. He will be arraigned on Sunday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Both drivers involved in the sideswipe accident were transported to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries.

Less than two hours prior to the crash, Ragotte posted on his Facebook page: “Sooo i have a girlfriend now ...Officially... Im very happy right now”

NCPD photo: Raj Jadeja