Suffolk Man Pleads Guilty To Fatally Striking Married Couple: DA

BRENTWOOD, NY — A Brentwood man who drove his car while intoxicated and fatally struck a married couple, pleaded guilty in court on Thursday, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.

Christian Lopez, 28, who was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, and driving while ability impaired by combined influence of alcohol and a drug or drugs, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Supreme Court Justice Richard I Horowitz, prosecutors said.

According to court documents and Lopez's statements, on October 2, 2021 at about 9:42 p.m., he drove a 2014 Acura sedan eastbound on Second Avenue in Brentwood, when he smashed into the rear of a 2004 Toyota Camry driven by Rodolfo Polanco, and his passenger Soraida Polanco.

The impact forced the Camry into the opposite lane, where it was struck by an oncoming vehicle, killing them both, officials said.

Seven other people were injured in the collision, police said.

After officials executed a search warrant on Lopez's car, police found that it was traveling 67 miles per hour in a 30 miles per hour zone at the time of the collision.

Also, prior to driving, Lopez had consumed alcohol and ingested a potent analog of fentanyl, prosecutors said. He exhibited signs of impairment, made admissions to drinking alcohol and to “zoning out.”

Toxicology results from a blood sample that had been taken from Lopez revealed a .05% BAC and the presence of fluorofentanyl, officials said.

“This defendant’s selfish and reckless actions caused the untimely death of a family. The defendant was impaired by both alcohol and fluorofentanyl when he slammed into the rear of the victims’ car at more than double the speed limit,” said Tierney. “It is outrageous conduct such as this that has lead our office to petition the legislature to increase the sanctions for criminally negligent driving that causes the deaths of innocent victims.”

Lopez faces five to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced. He is due back in court for sentencing on January 26, 2023.