Nassau Man Pleads Guilty In Crash That Killed His Girlfriend

A Roosevelt man pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges related to a fatal car crash in Hempstead in November, 2015, which killed his girlfriend on her birthday.

Horace Cummings, 34, pleaded guilty in front of Supreme Court Justice Robert McDonald to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree reckless endangerment and driving while ability impaired by combined influence of alcohol and drugs. Cummings is due back in court on April 6 for sentencing.

The district attorney is recommending Cummings be sentenced to five to 15 years in prison. Cummings remains held on at $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash.

“Diamond Hawkins’ young life was stolen from her by a man she trusted,” said District Attorney Madeline Singas. “The terrible ironies in this crash do not obscure the fact that Horace Cummings was driving while impaired by alcohol and drugs. He risked every life on the road that night, including the innocent driver of the car he struck, but ultimately took the life of his girlfriend.”

On Nov. 21, 2015, at approximately 2:40 a.m., Cummings was impaired by drugs and alcohol when he was driving a 2015 Nissan Altima in Hempstead. He crossed over the center line on Front Street and the car collided head-on with another vehicle driving eastbound. Cummings’ passenger and girlfriend, Diamond Hawkins, was killed in the collision. Hawkins had just turned 25 and was given the Altima as a birthday gift. Cummings suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver of the other car was uninjured.

He was later indicted and surrendered to the Nassau County Police Department on Aug. 8.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office