Nassau Man Arraigned In Drunk Driving Death Of NYPD Detective

GLEN COVE, NY — A Locust Valley man was arraigned last week on a long list of charges related to a crash in 2019 that killed a retired NYPD detective who was being transported by an ambulette.

Alvaro Gutierrez-Garcia, 28, was arraigned on April 30 on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, two counts of first-degree vehicular assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree vehicular assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and aggravated DWI.

Gutierrez-Garcia had bail set at $150,000. He is due back in court on May 28. if convicted of the top charges, he could face up to 25 years in prison.

“Denis Motherway, a retired NYPD detective, bravely served the residents of New York City for 18 years before his life was tragically cut short by an alleged drunk driver,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting every case against people who drink and drive.”

According to Singas, around 11:45 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2019, Gutierrez-Garcia was driving a 1997 Cadillac sedan east on Forest Avenue in Glen Cove at a high rate of speed when he hit a private ambulette that was heading south on Walnut Avenue. The force of the crash caused the ambulette, which was transporting Motherway to Glen Cove Hospital, to overturn.

Butierrez-Garcia was not injured in the crash, Singas said. His passenger in the front seat suffered minor injuries. The EMT inside the ambulette suffered serious injuries, Singas said, and the driver suffered minor injuries.

Motherway, an 85-year-old patient inside the ambulette, later died from injuries he sustained in the crash, Singas said. Motherway was a retired NYPD detective whose son, Timothy Motherway, was killed by a drunk driver in March 2009.