Woman Indicted After Leaving Scene Of Crash Where Firefighter Died: DA

BELLPORT, NY — A Bellport woman was indicted Thursday for leaving the scene of a crash that left a volunteer firefighter dead, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Maria Guallpa-Bonilla, 36, was indicted on the charge of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, a felony, as well as driving in violation of a license restriction, a traffic infraction, after the hit-and-run crash that caused the death of Christopher Hlavaty, 22, of East Patchogue, the DA said.

Hlavaty was a volunteer firefighter for the Hagerman Fire Department, the DA said.

According to the investigation, on June 10 at about 10:47 p.m., Guallpa-Bonilla left her job in Patchogue and began to drive home alone in a blue 2001 Mercury Cougar, the DA said.

At the time, Guallpa-Bonilla only had a New York State driving permit, which required her to be with a licensed driver while she operated a vehicle, Tierney said. While Guallpa-Bonilla was making a left-hand turn onto Rider Avenue, she struck Hlavaty, who was riding his 2008 Suzuki motorcycle, and then ran over his body, the DA said.

Guallpa-Bonilla then fled the scene without stopping, rendering aid to Hlavaty, or reporting the collision to law enforcement, the DA said. Hlavaty died later that night as a result of the injuries he sustained from the crash, Tierney said.

Law enforcement found car parts at the scene of the collision and later determined that they belonged to a 2001 Mercury Cougar, the DA said. Two days later, police located a 2001 Mercury Cougar covered by a tarp in Guallpa-Bonilla’s driveway; the car parts recovered from the scene matched the damage seen on Guallpa-Bonilla’s Mercury, Tierney said.

On Thursday, Guallpa-Bonilla was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei; Mazzei ordered Guallpa-Bonilla be held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, Tierney said.

In addition, Guallpa-Bonilla’s driving privileges in New York State were suspended, and she was ordered to surrender her passport, the DA said. Gualpa-Bonilla is due back in court on August 15, and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count, the DA said.

She is being represented by Brett Bennett, who was not immediately available for comment.

"This defendant’s alleged actions in leaving a man to die in the road after striking him and running over his body, were callous and unconscionable," said Tierney. "Christopher Hlavaty was loved by his community and dedicated his time to helping others as a volunteer firefighter. We will seek justice for Mr. Hlavaty and his loved ones."