Guilty Plea For Man Who Led Police On Chase, Killing Teen In Crash

MEDFORD, NY — A homeless man pleaded guilty this week to aggravated vehicular homicide for an October 2021 incident that left a Medford 19-year-old teenager dead. Robert Hengeveld, 51, led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen pickup truck on the Long Island Expressway Service Road in Farmingville, while high on crack cocaine, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

Hengveld then crashed into a Honda Civic driven by 19-year-old Starlin Diaz Felipe of Medford who was killed instantly. The chase lasted 11 minutes, the DA's office said.

“This defendant’s reckless actions caused the tragic death of a teenager. Not only was he in possession of a stolen truck but he also engaged the police in a high-speed chase through Suffolk County while high on drugs and endangered countless other motorists in the process,” District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement.

“While this plea cannot bring back the victim, it does hold the defendant responsible for his actions and protects Suffolk’s citizens from further reckless acts by this defendant.”

On Wednesday, Hengeveld entered guilty pleas the vehicular homicide as well as charges of unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of stolen property, reckless driving and driving while impaired by drugs. He faces up to eight years in prison and will be sentenced on July 13.