Manslaughter Charges For Driver Of Hit-And-Run DWI Crash On LI: DA

BAY SHORE, NY — A 21-year-old man has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and other charges after allegedly killing a man in a hit-and-run DWI crash on Long Island earlier this year, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.

Alexander Cerda, of Bay Shore, was indicted for first-degree assault and second degree manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in death, driving while intoxicated and other related charges, he hit and killed a pedestrian identified as Eric Perez, 52, of Bay Shore, while driving a stolen vehicle drunk without headlights on, the DA said.

"The charges returned by the grand jury reflect the severe nature of the alleged offenses and the defendant’s conduct," Tierney said. "We are committed to seeking justice for the tragic consequences of the defendant’s deadly actions."

According to the investigation, on March 8, at around 2 a.m., Cerda allegedly entered into a Bay Shore home where he damaged a window, went into an unlocked Toyota RAV4 on the property and video surveillance from the residence captured what appeared to be the intoxicated defendant driving off with the vehicle, the DA said.

The DA said that around 2:10 a.m., less than a mile away from the residence he stole the vehicle from, Cerda drove it westbound on Main Street near Shore Lane in Bay Shore at a high rate of speed with the vehicle’s headlights off before he struck Perez, who was thrown a considerable distance down the street.

According to the DA, Cerda then stopped the car, got out and took several photographs of the damage to the vehicle while numerous Good Samaritans tried unsuccessfully to help Perez. When Suffolk police arrived at the crash site, Cerda reentered the stolen RAV4 and drove off, the DA said.

Perez was later pronounced dead at the scene, the DA said.

The following day, detectives located the damaged, stolen vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot on South Clinton Avenue in Bay Shore, near Cerda’s residence, the DA said. On March 12, Cerda was arrested by police as he left his workplace, the DA said.

On April 11, Cerda was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft, Jr. and charged with one count of second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony; one count of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, a Class D felony; one count of leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death, a Class D felony; one count of second-degree assault, a Class D felony; one count of third-degree grand larceny a Class D felony; one count of second-degree vehicular assault, a Class D felony; one count of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a Class D felony; one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony; one count of third-degree criminal mischief, a Class E felony; one count of driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor; one count of reckless driving an unclassified misdemeanor; one count of second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor; one count of third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle a Class A misdemeanor; one count of third-degree criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor; and one count of criminal tampering with evidence, a Class B misdemeanor, the DA said.

Senft ordered Cerda to be held on $400,000 cash, $800,000 bond or $2,000,000 partially secured bond and suspended his license during the pendency of the case, the DA said. He is due back in court on May 2 and faces 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

He is being represented by George Duncan, who was not immediately available for comment.