Nassau Man Arraigned In Drunk Driving Death Of 21-Year-Old

A West Hempstead man was arraigned and indicted on Wednesday for his role in a Baldwin crash that killed a 21-year-old man and injured otheres, the district attorney said.

According to Nassau DA Madeline Singas, Roy Gomez, 39, of West Hempstead, was indicted on a long list of charges related to the fatal crash from March 13 that killed 21-year-old Jovanni Bien-Aime, of Baldwin, and injured his parents.

“This alleged hit-and-run driver killed an innocent 21-year-old and injured his parents when he rear-ended their car while driving drunk and high, then allegedly hid from police while the family was left in the street,” Singas said. "The allegations in this case underscore the need for stronger penalties for hit and run drivers in New York.”

According to Singas, on March 13 at around 10:15 p.m., Gomez drove his 2004 Chevrolet Trailblaer south on Grand Avenue in Baldwin, while he was drunk and high. Singas said that he rear-ended a Nissan Altima that was stopped at a red light on Milburn Avenue, occupied by Bien-Aime and his parents. The crash was so severe, authorities say, that it pushed the back of the car into the passenger compartment, trapping all three people inside, as it propelled the car down Grand Avenue.

Police say that Gomez fled the scene of the crash in his car, parked it a few blocks away and then ran off on foot. Police officers allegedly found Gomez at 3:30 a.m. sleeping in a boat on Woodcleft Avenue in Freeport.

Bien-Amie died on March 14 from his injuries. His parents, Jacques Bien-Aime and Kettelye Plantin, were injured, but are recovering.

Gomez is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, tampering with physical evidence, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, two counts of third-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol, aggravated DWI, driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol, reckless driving and driving while under the influence of drugs. If convicted of the top charge, he could face up to 25 years in jail.

Photo: Nassau County Police Department