Man Gets 5 to 15 Years In Prison For Deadly Christmas Day Crash: DA

ISLIP, NY — A Bay Shore man was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for striking two pedestrians with an SUV while driving drunk and high on cannabis on Christmas Day in 2021, killing one of them.

Jonnathan Zhicaypincay, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs, or alcohol in drugs aggravated vehicular homicide in September, prosecutors said.

On Dec. 25, 2021, at about 2:45 p.m., Zhicaypincay, who was 18 at the time, was driving a 2004 Honda Pilot on Union Boulevard in Islip when he struck two pedestrians who were walking in front of an apartment building, according to court documents and the defendant’s plea allocution.

One of the pedestrians, Luis Trujillo, 67, of Central Islip, died at the scene. The second pedestrian was hospitalized with serious injuries.

Police said Zhicaypincay had bloodshot glassy eyes, slurred speech, and appeared unsteady on his feet. His breath also smelled of alcohol, prosecutors said.

Zhicaypincay was taken to South Shore University Hospital where he agreed to a blood test, and said he was both drinking and took drugs.

Later, while at the precinct for processing, police searched Zhicaypincay’s wallet and found cocaine.

An analysis of Zhicaypincay’s blood indicated his blood alcohol content was .13 percent, with evidence of recent use of cannabis and cocaine in his system as well, prosecutors said.

Zhicaypincay pleaded guilty Sept. 19.

"People should feel safe while walking in their neighborhood rather than fearful of losing their lives because someone decides to be irresponsible and drive drunk and high on drugs," said Raymond Tierney, the Suffolk County district attorney. “The surviving victim and Mr. Trujillo’s family will have to live with the aftermath of this horrible crime that occurred on Christmas day no less. That is why I will continue to petition for tougher drunk driving laws where serious injuries and deaths result.”