DWI Driver In Fatal 120 MPH Suffolk Crash Gets 4 To 12 Years In Prison

BAY SHORE, NY – A Bay Shore driver who sped more than 120 mph on Robert Moses Causeway while intoxicated and crashed, killing his 19-year-old passenger, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said.

Jhonny Chavarria-Argueta, 21, was sentenced by Judge Timothy P. Mazzei on Thursday. He pleaded guilty in April to second degree manslaughter, second degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, and driving while intoxicated, said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.

On Sept. 18, 2022, at about 4:20 a.m., Chavarria-Argueta was driving a rented 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe eastbound on the Southern State Parkway in the area of the Robert Moses Causeway near exit 40 after drinking alcohol, according to court documents and his admissions during his guilty plea allocution.

Witnesses also saw Chavarria-Argueta drinking alcohol prior to driving the car.

The 21-year old, who was driving at an extremely high rate of speed, lost control of the vehicle and struck the median guardrail, causing the vehicle to flip multiple times, prosecutors said.

The car finally came to a rest on its nose against the Robert Moses Causeway overpass.
Jessica Gonzalez, 19, of Commack, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was thrown from the vehicle and died of her injuries, prosecutors said.

Following the crash, Chavarria-Argueta climbed out of the vehicle and ran.

Prosecutors later obtained a warrant to retrieve the black box from Chavarria-Argueta’s vehicle, which revealed that he was driving 120 mph within seconds of the time of the crash.

He was indicted on Dec. 7.

“The defendant’s complete and utter carelessness cost Jessica Gonzalez her life,” said District Attorney Tierney. “There may have been a chance for the victim’s survival if the defendant didn’t think about himself following the crash and, instead, rendered aid to Jessica. While justice is no substitute for a human life, this prison sentence will hold the defendant responsible for his actions.”

Cornell V. Bouse, Esq., Chavarria-Argueta's attorney, told Patch that his client's actions were not intentional, and he remains remorseful.

"He would have done 10 years to take it to bring the girl back," Bouse said. "But obviously, we can't do that. So it was a sad, sad, sad day for both families."

The attorney also said that Judge Mazzei gave Chavarria-Argueta a "just sentence" and that the probation department conducted a "very fair investigation" of the incident.

"These are two kids, and one of them perished at the reckless conduct of my client," Bouse said. "He took responsibility for it. There's just so much the court can do."

Bouse's hopes for his client is that he can attend a SUNY college program while in prison so that he can become a "fine member of society" when he is released. Chavarria-Argueta will greive Gonzalez for his whole life, he said.

"We're all mourning for the young lady that was lost," Bouse said. "Her family was there today. It was heart-wrenching. Just every parent's worst nightmare."