Nassau Woman Indicted In Fatal Drunk Driving Crash: DA

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Nassau County woman was indicted Friday on charges related to a deadly drunken-driving crash nearly a year ago that killed a man.

Tasha Brown, 28, of Uniondale, was arraigned on April 8 on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular assault, third-degree assault, three counts of second-degree assault, aggravated driving while intoxicated, two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Brown pleaded not guilty. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison.

“This defendant was allegedly so intoxicated that she was unable to keep her vehicle on the road, veering and crashing into multiple parked cars at more than 90 mph, including one occupied by 29-year-old Nelson Fuentes who was tragically killed as a result of the collision. Brown’s passengers also sustained serious injuries in the crash and thankfully recovered,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Anyone can become a victim of drunk driving. It is imperative that we aggressively prosecute these cases to keep our roadways safe. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family at this time.”

According to Donnelly, around 4:30 a.m. on May 29, 2021, Brown was driving a 2016 Toyota Corolla with three passengers. She was driving west on Front Street in Hempstead at more than 90 mph, and at the intersection of Hendrickson Avenue, Donnelly said she veered off the road and hit several parked cars.

Donnelly said 29-year-old Nelson Fuentes was in one of the cars, and suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Brown and her passengers were also injured, Donnelly said. They were all taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where Fuentes was pronounced dead at 5:26 a.m.

Brown was arrested on May 29, 2021, in Hempstead by detectives of the Hempstead Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.