Suffolk Teen Left Hit-And-Run Victim 'To Die' In Street: DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Bay Shore teen is facing upgraded charges in an indictment in connection with allegations he was behind the wheel of a car that fatally struck a pedestrian in Patchogue and then bolted from the scene back in March, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said.

Elian Jurado-Zavala, 19, is accused of driving the car that fatally struck Nicholas Puzio, 25, of Farmingville on March 12. Prosecutors say he was driving a white 2014 Honda Civic southbound on Route 112, near Oak Street, at around 4 a.m. when it struck Puzio, who was walking in the street.

Puzio later died at the hospital from injuries he sustained from the impact, according to prosecutors.

Jurado-Zavala left the scene without contacting police or stopping to check on Puzio and pulled over into a nearby gas station for a brief period before driving home, prosecutors said.

The next day, Suffolk police detectives found his vehicle at his home in Bay Shore and saw damage to the windshield and fender, and he was placed under arrest, according to police.

He faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting.

Tierney said Juarado-Zavala "allegedly drove away from the scene of a deadly crash and went home as if nothing had happened, leaving the victim to die in the street."

"Although the defendant initially tried to avoid responsibility by allegedly fleeing, he will now be forced to answer for this crime," he said.

Jurado-Zavala was ordered on supervised release during the pendency of the case.

He is due back in court on July 31.

If convicted, he could serve between two and two-thirds and seven years incarceration.

His attorney, Robert Macedonio of Central Islip, said a plea of not guilty was entered at the arraignment.

"This is a tragic event," he said. "As I indicated earlier, we have the deepest sympathy for the family and friends of the victim."

"Once we complete our investigation, we'll be able to adequately defend Jurado-Zavala," he added.

The teen is a 2022 graduate of Brentwood High School with no prior criminal arrest history, he said.

"He has the complete support of his family and has been extremely cooperative since the case's initial investigation," he added.