Erik Refvik Sentenced in Fatal Wrong-Way Car Crash

White Plains resident Erik Refvik, 35, was sentenced today to an indeterminate term of five to 15 years in prison in connection with the November 2014 vehicular homicide that killed Port Chester resident Reyda La Madrid.

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced the sentenced, which followed Refvik’s guilty plea to the entire 16 count indictment that charged him with:

• four counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, class “B” Felonies,
• one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, a class “D” Felony,
• one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
• two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, class “A” Misdemeanors,
• one count of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
• one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
• one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified VTL Misdemeanor,
• various Vehicle and Traffic Law Infractions.

“Today, as a result of his actions last November, and after pleading guilty to the most serious DWI charge in New York State, this defendant will now face substantial time in state prison,” said DiFiore in a statement. “While that won’t replace the loss of a wife and mother, and cannot repair the damage done to the victim’s family, hopefully it will give the family some measure of closure.”

Additionally, the crash seriously injured Edgar Lopez, who was driving the car in which La Madrid was riding. Lopez subsequently sued one of the bars where Refvik, a White Plains firefighter, drank before the accident.

According to DiFiore:

On November 3rd 2014 at approximately 4:30am, the defendant while operating his 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe at approximately 65 miles per hour, collided with a 2000 Honda Civic that was waiting at a traffic light. The force of the head-on collision, pushed the Honda nearly half a football field down South Lexington Avenue, killing the passenger and seriously injuring the driver.

Over a span of nearly 12 hours preceding the collision, the defendant was seen on video drinking at a number of bars on Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains.

At the time of the collision, experts put the defendant’s blood alcohol content (BAC) at .21, more than 2 1/2 times the legal limit. In addition, he had a cocktail of exacerbating substances in his system which consisted of cocaine, clonazepam, and bath salts.

The defendant was arrested at the Westchester Medical Center that same day by the White Plains police.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lopez of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.

Photo: Erik Refvik. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney’s office