Drivers Indicted In Nassau Parkway Crash That Killed Young Couple

Two Brooklyn residents were indicted on Wednesday on charges related to the death of an engaged couple in a serious car crash in Inwood in April.

Zakiyyah Steward, 25, and Rahmel Watkins, 35, both of Brooklyn, were indicted on multiple charges related to the deaths of 21-year-old Yisroel Levin, of Brooklyn, and his fiance, Elisheva Basya Kaplan, 20, of Far Rockaway. The couple was set to be married this month.

“This indictment alleges that Yisroel and Elishiva's lives were stolen, just as their lives were about to begin as a married couple, by the defendants who recklessly drove too fast in bad weather and while one of them was intoxicated,” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. “Nassau County will not tolerate this kind of unconscionable disregard for life. My heart goes out to the Levin and Kaplan families.”

Singas said that on April 4 at around 1:40 a.m., Watkins and Stewerd were driving north on Nassau Expressway in Inwood heading to a casino in Queens. According to Singas, Watkins was driving a 2010 BMW 550 GT recklessly and very fast when his car crossed the double-yellow line and struck a 2017 Nissan Altima head-on, which was being driven by Levin with Kaplan in the passenger seat. The couple was returning home from a Passover gathering.

The Altima burst into flames in the crash and was pushed backward, killing the couple. Singas said that Watkins then struck a silver Infiniti being driven by James Hamilton, fracturing his spine and causing knee and ankle injuries as well.

Singas said that, at the same time Watkins was driving fast, Stewerd was driving a 2016 Hyundai Genesis next to him at the same rate of speed, and she was drunk and high on marijuana. Singas said that Steward's car also hit Levin's Altima.

Both Steward and Watkins suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Watkins was indicted on two counts of second-degree manslaughter, four counts of second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment and reckless driving.

Steward was indicted on three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, four counts of second-degree assault, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, two counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, and driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs and alcohol.

Bail was set at $1 million bond or $500,000 cash for Watkins and $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash for Steward. The two are due back in court July 18. If convicted of the top counts, Steward faces up to 25 years in prison and Watkins faces up to 15.

Photo: Rahmel Watkins, left, and Zakiyyah Steward. Courtesy Nassau County Police Department.