Uber Driver Pleads Guilty After Teen Dies From Car Surfing: DA

HUNTINGTON, NY - An Uber driver pleaded guilty on Thursday for allowing a passenger to ride on the roof of his car, causing his death in Huntington last year, according to Suffolk County DA Timothy Sini.

Danyal Cheema, 24, of Huntington Station, was charged with second degree manslaughter after his passenger fell off the roof of the car and struck his head on the roadway, causing head trauma which resulted in his death.

"This was a tragic incident that could have been avoided had the defendant not conducted himself in such a reckless manner," Sini said. "Our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family and loved ones."

Between 12:03 a.m. and 12:35 a.m. on Sept. 23, 2018, Cheema, while working as a driver for Uber, was driving three teenage boys in his 2010 Toyota Highlander on Cove Road.

The passengers asked Cheema for permission to "car surf," or ride on the roof of the car as it was moving and offered him $70 cash.

The passengers ultimately paid Cheema $40 and he allowed them to climb onto the roof of the car while at an intersection.

Two of the passengers, including 15-year-old Ryan Mullen, of Cold Spring Harbor, remained on the roof of the vehicle while Cheema continued driving on Cove Road.

Mullen then fell off the car and struck his head on the roadway.

A video of the incident was recorded by the third passenger on Snapchat.

Cheema drove the three teenagers to their home at a residence in Huntington.

Mullen, who had suffered severe head trauma, succumbed to his injuries in his sleep later that day.

Following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad and the District Attorney’s Office, Cheema was arrested by Suffolk County Police officers on Nov. 4, 2018.

Cheema will be sentenced by Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho at a later date.

He faces a minimum of 10 months in jail plus five years of post-release supervision.