LI Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter For Deadly Road-Rage Crash

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Valley Stream man pleaded guilty today to manslaughter for a 2019 road rage incident that caused a fatal crash in Hempstead.

Dana King, Jr., 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, where he is expected to get five to 12 years in prison, as well as having his drivers license revoked.

“Dana King’s jealousy turned criminal as he recklessly drove at grossly excessive speeds and chasing the car containing his ex-girlfriend,” said District Attorney Madeline Singas. “The crash he caused senselessly killed 22-year-old Jim Hayes and seriously injured Isabel Rodriguez. We continue to send our condolences to both families.”

According to Singas, at 11:30 p.m. on March 19, 2019, 22-year-old Jim Hayes, Jr. picked up Isabel Rodriguez from her home in Valley Stream. About a block from her house, Rodriguez saw King, her ex-boyfriend, driving a black 2009 Audi behind them. King chased them from Valley Stream to Hempstead, driving very fast and making contact with the other car multiple times.

On Baldwin Road in Hempstead, King's car hit the Audi, causing it to become airborne and crash into a tree. The force of the crash caused King's car to spin out of control and strike two parked cars before finally stopping several hundred feet away.

The crash killed Hayes. Rodriguez was taken to Nassau University Medical Center for treatment of a broken arm and a broken back.