DWI Crash Kills Passenger; Driver Arrested: Nassau DA

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A Hempstead man faces manslaughter and other charges after he was accused of driving while drunk, resulting in the death of one of his passengers and injuring another in February, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Tuesday.

Elvin Maradiaga Ortiz, 33, faces up to five to 15 years in prison if convicted.

"After crashing his vehicle into a pole on Jerusalem Avenue, flipping the car and killing 35-year-old Alex Banegas Figueroa, this defendant allegedly took off on foot," Donnelly said in a news release. "Piecing together his movements before the fatal crash using surveillance video, investigators discovered Maradiaga Ortiz allegedly spent hours excessively drinking at a local bar before getting behind the wheel and veering off the roadway. There is no excuse for drinking and driving. It is a decision that can have catastrophic consequences and can cost someone their life."

Around 5:10 a.m. Feb. 24, Ortiz was driving a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee west on Jerusalem Avenue in Uniondale while intoxicated, the DA said. Ortiz had two passengers in his Jeep, officials said. While traveling along Jerusalem Avenue, Ortiz drove off the roadway, causing the vehicle to strike a pole and flip over, authorities said. Both passengers were injured in the crash, prosecutors said.

After the collision, Ortiz ran away from the crash scene, leaving Figueroa, his backseat passenger, unconscious in the Jeep, investigators said.

Figueroa was transported to Nassau University Medical Center after the crash and was pronounced dead one week later on March 1, the DA said.

Ortiz's surviving passenger suffered head and right shoulder pain and a cut to his head, officials said.

Ortiz drank multiple alcoholic beverages over the course of several hours at a local bar before the crash, prosecutors said.

Ortiz was arrested by Nassau police officers on March 21. He was charged with second-degree manslaughter; second-degree vehicular manslaughter; leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death; third-degree assault; and driving while intoxicated.

Ortiz pleaded not guilty and was remanded. He is due back in court on July 18. He is represented by Taryn Shechter. Shechter did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.