White Plains Firefighter Arraigned on Vehicular Homicide Charges

White Plains resident and firefighter Erik Refvik, 35, was arraigned Monday on a 16-count indictment in connection with an alleged drunken driving accident last November in which Port Chester resident Reyda La Madrid was killed.

“This defendant, in a city that he both lived and worked, as alleged in the indictment, operated his car in such an intoxicated and impaired condition that he drove down a major thoroughfare, South Lexington Avenue, in the wrong direction for more than a third of a mile before crashing head-on into the victim’s vehicle,” said Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore in a statement. In addition to La Madrid who was the passenger in the car Refvik is accused of slamming into, the driver, Edgar Lopez, also was seriously injured.

DiFiore added, “No less troubling, was the fact that before the collision, this defendant spent the previous 12 hours on a drinking odyssey, enabled throughout, by the fact that only one of the at least four bars he patronized refused to serve him.”

The crash occurred in the early morning hours of November 3, 2014. Refvik was “operating his 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe at approximately 65 miles per hour, [when he] 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.”

Refvik “was seen on video drinking at a minimum of four bars on Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains,” The Brazen Fox, Hudson Grille, Copper Face Jacks and Black Bear, according to prosecutors.

His blood alcohol content (BAC) was .21, prosecution experts said, or more than two-and-a-half-times the legal limit.

“In addition, he had a cocktail of exacerbating substances in his system which consisted of cocaine, clonazepam, and bath salts,” said DiFiore.

Refvik was charged with the following, according to a press release:

• • 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.

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

Bail was increased to $50,000.

His next court appearance will be on March 26th, 2015.

He faces a maximum sentence of twenty five years in prison.

Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Lopez and Jonathan Strongin of the Superior Court Trial Division are prosecuting the case.

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

Also on Patch:

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• Westchester County Has One of the Lowest Unemployment Rates in New York
• Former Fox Lane Teacher Adam Heller Files Lawsuit to Reclaim Job
• Rye Reaches Settlement for $475,000 in Police Brutality Case
• Hudson Valley Man Admits Role as Capo in Genovese Crime Family
• Feds Call on Local Cops to Police Railroad Grade Crossings

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