LI Man Convicted After 7-Car DWI Pileup Kills 1, Injures Others: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead man was convicted after driving while intoxicated led to a seven-car crash and the death of his passenger, among other injuries, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Cristian Mendoza-Baquiax, 37, of Riverhead, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and other related charges following a multi-vehicle crash on County Road 105 in Riverhead that killed his passenger, Nelson Reyes-Muxin, 33, of Riverhead, the DA said.

According to court documents and Mendoza-Baquiax's admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on August 7, 2024, at about 6:15 p.m., he was driving a white 2010 Acura MDX northbound on County Road 105 in Riverhead.

Mendoza-Baquiax drove around a northbound car at a high rate of speed and into the opposite lane of travel, where he struck several vehicles, the DA said. In total, seven cars were involved in the crash; Reyes-Muxin died as a result of injuries he sustained, Tierney said.

Another passenger in the vehicle sustained multiple fractures to his arm and a dislocated shoulder, and was treated at Peconic Bay Medical Center, the DA said.

The driver of another vehicle involved in the crash sustained two fractured legs and a dislocated ankle and was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital for medical treatment, the DA said. In addition, two other individuals were transported to local hospitals for injuries they sustained as a result of the crash, Tierney said.

Mendoza-Baquiax exhibited signs of intoxication and stated that he'd had six beers, the DA said. He was subsequently placed under arrest and consented to a blood draw upon request by police, Tierney said. Toxicology tested of his blood revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .21 percent, more than two times the legal BAC of .08 percent, the DA said. He was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained from the crash, where a sample of blood taken by hospital staff upon his admission was also seized pursuant to a search warrant, the DA said. Subsequent toxicology testing of that sample, taken at an earlier time than the sample taken by police, revealed that he had a .25% blood alcohol content, more than three times the legal BAC, Tierney said.

On March 11, 2025, Mendoza-Baquiax pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven
Pilewski to charges including three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, Class B felonies; one count of second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony; two counts of second-degree assault, Class D felonies; one count of aggravated driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony; and two counts of third-degree assault, Class A misdemeanors, Tierney said.

The defendant is due back in court for sentencing on April 15, where he is expected to be sentenced to five to 15 years imprisonment, the DA said. He is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal
Aid Society.

"This defendant’s fateful decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol caused the tragic death of Nelson Reyes-Muxin and severe injuries to several other individuals," said Tierney. "This conviction is a reminder to all that drunk driving kills."