Crime & Safety
Off-Duty FDNY Firefighter Charged With DWI In NYC Crash
Justin Diaz, 24, of Brooklyn, was pronounced dead following the crash, police said.
QUEENS, NY — An off-duty FDNY firefighter has been charged with driving while intoxicated after a crash in Queens on Wednesday that killed one person, police announced.
The driver has been identified as Michael Pena, 28, and is also facing second-degree vehicular manslaughter and refusal to take a breath test charges.
The crash happened on Northern Boulevard around 4:15 a.m. in East Elmhurst.
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A 23-year-old man — identified as Justin Diaz, of Brooklyn, — was driving a 2022 BMW north on 107th Street when it was struck by a 2015 Mercedes driving east on Northern Boulevard.
The driver of the BMW was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, where he was pronounced dead, Patch previously reported.
Find out what's happening in Queensfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The two passengers in the Mercedes were transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in stable condition.
Pena, the driver of the Mercedes, was taken into police custody following the crash.
This is a developing story. This post may be updated.
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