Vehicular Manslaughter Indictment for Westchester Man

Mount Vernon resident Hasani Ewan, 38, was indicted Wednesday for his role in a September car crash that killed Elouise Spears of the Bronx, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced.

Ewan arraigned on a seven count indictment charging him with:

• three counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies,
• one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class “E” Felony,
• three counts of Driving While Intoxicated, unclassified Misdemeanors under the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

According to DiFiore, on Sept. 7 at about 1:40 a.m., Ewan was driving his 2001 Honda Accord eastbound on the Cross County Parkway in the vicinity of the Seminary Bridge in Yonkers. Spears was the front seat passenger.

Ewan veered off the highway and into the Seminary Bridge abutment, and the front passenger side hit the bridge, killing Spears.

“When police arrived, [Ewan] was outside the vehicle and appeared to be in an agitated state,” according to DiFiore. “Officers noted that Ewan’s eyes were glassy and that he staggered when he walked. They also detected the smell of alcohol on his breath and the smell of marijuana coming from his clothing.”

Ewan suffered a cut to the face from the crash and was treated at Westchester Medical Center, where he was placed under arrest and advised of his DWI warnings.

His Blood Alcohol Content was .13 percent, which is above the legal limit.

Ewan, who pleaded not guilty, is out on a bail of $75,000.

His next court date is March 23, 2016, and he faces a maximum prison sentence of 7 years.

Deputy Bureau Chief Nadine Nagler of the Superior Court Trial Division is prosecuting the case.

Photo: Hasani Ewan. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney’s office