Medford Man Indicted In Connection With Crash That Killed 1, Injured 2: DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Medford man has been indicted for aggravated vehicular homicide and related charges for driving while intoxicated and crashing — ultimately killing a passengerin his car and injuring two others, District Attorney Ray Tierney said Monday.

Tierney called the crash "tragic" and "entirely preventable."

“The defendant’s alleged decision to drive while intoxicated cost a young man his life and left another seriously injured," he said. "My office remains committed to holding those accountable who endanger our community by choosing to get behind the wheel while impaired.”

He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count.

The United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, and Customs Enforcement, has
also lodged a detainer to deport Valdez-Cruz after he serves his sentence, Tierney's office said.

Patch has reached out to his defense attorney, Vincent Bianco of Westbury, for comment.

Prosecutors allege that on Oct. 6, at just before 3 p.m., Jefry Valdez-Cruz, a 25-year-old citizen of El Salvador, and three others left a barbeque where he had allegedly been drinking alcohol.

Valdez-Cruz was allegedly driving his BMW southbound on Bellport Avenue in Medford at a high speed when he veered into the northbound lane and into trees on the opposite side of the road, prosecutors said.

A passenger in Valdez-Cruz’s car, Edgar Guevara Ramos, 22, of Bellport, was ejected from the
vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, and two other passengers were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital and treated for their injuries, including a 26-year-old from Selden, and a 24-year-old from Medford, according to prosecutors.

In addition top vehicular homicide, Valdez-Cruz faces one count of second-degree manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter, assault, and vehicular assault. He also faces charges of one count each of third-degree assault, and reckless driving, as well as to counts each of driving while intoxicated.

Valdez-Cruz is due back in court on Dec. 15.