'God Knows My Pain': Mom Of Boy, 9, Killed In DWI Crash On LIE

FARMINGVILLE, NY — A Brooklyn man was sentenced Friday to 4.5 to 13.5 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to speeding 119 miles per hour on the Long Island Expressway and crashing into the back of another vehicle, killing a 9-year-old boy, who was in his booster seat, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Travis Dickson, 32, pleaded guilty in February, the DA said.

According to court documents and Dickson's admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on August 22, 2022, at 1:49 a.m., Dickson drove a 2018 BMW 540i westbound on the Long Island Expressway at 119 mph, while he was impaired by a combination of alcohol and marijuana.

Dickson then struck the back of a 2019 Toyota Corolla, making no attempt to use the vehicle’s brakes prior to the impact; inside the Toyota was Angel Salas, and his father, Bruce Koch, 49, of Deer Park, who was driving, officials said at the time.

Angel was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was listed in critical condition due to the injuries sustained from the crash, Tierney said. Koch was also taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the DA said.

On August 24, 2022, doctors declared Angel brain-dead, and he was ultimately removed from life support after arrangements were made to donate his organs, Tierney said.

Following the crash, Dickson exhibited signs of intoxication, made admissions to smoking marijuana, and law enforcement found him with marijuana, the DA said. A sample of Dickson’s blood drawn about three hours after the crash revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .14 percent, and the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, the DA said. Law enforcement also determined that Dickson’s New York State driver’s license was revoked at the time he was driving the BMW, the DA said.

On February 9, 2024, Dickson pleaded guilty to the following charges before Acting Justice Richard I. Horowitz, Tierney said:

- Second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony;
-Second-degree vehicular manslaughter, a Class D felony;
-Second-degree assault, a Class D felony;
- Third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor;
- Driving while intoxicated and driving while impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and a drug, an unclassified misdemeanor;
- Reckless driving, an unclassified misdemeanor; and
- Third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, an unclassified
misdemeanor.

On April 5, 2024, Justice Horowitz sentenced Dickson to 4.5 to 13.5 years in prison; the People
recommended that Dickson be sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed under the law, the DA said.

Dickson was represented by Douglas Rankin, who previously told Patch he had no comment.

Juliana Salas, Angel's mother, appeared in court Friday with tears in her eyes, carrying a photo of her son and wearing a blue pin from LiveOnNY to honor Angel's legacy as an organ donor. Supporters in attendance also wore the pins in his memory.

Salas made an impact statement before the judge. "I spoke from the heart. I had to be authentic. I know God is with me. We are always held accountable for our choices," she told Patch.

She added: "I’m sorry we will miss out on what a great man Angel would’ve turned out to be. Angel was loving, cheerful, kind, and a friend to all. He saved three people’s lives through organ donation on August 27, 2022. He saved my life 9 years before that."

Salas said it would not have been "authentic" for her to say anything about forgiveness at the sentencing. "I have the rest of my life to work on that," she said. "And as for Angel, he’s no longer here to express himself."

Life, she said, is not complicated. "We make it complicated. Just love yourself, love your neighbor. It starts a home with your family. Just be kind."

Of the unthinkable agony she's endured, Salas said: "God knows my pain. He knows what it’s like to lose your only son."

Salas, Angel's heartbroken mother, also spoke with Patch after Dickerson's guilty plea.

"I don’t know why this is Angel’s legacy and why this is now my current journey," she said. "All I know is God is with me and has been so every step of the way. All I can do is make the best decisions moving forward in good faith. We can’t control other people’s choices, actions and least of all, we can’t erase the past. I hope people feel inspired to make sound judgements, live soberly, and prioritize their family and health. I hope people stop telling grieving families affected by drunk drivers, how 'strong' they are. We have no choice in the matter but to press on. #Nomorevictims."

Angel Salas saved three people with his organ donations, a LiveOnNY spokesman said.

Salas was removed from the ventilator that was keeping him alive and was given an honor walk, which is a special tribute in which all hospital employees line the hallway, as his body was wheeled into an operating room, LiveOnNY confirmed.

Three people between New York and Florida were saved by Salas' donation, said Leonard Achan, LiveOnNY president and CEO, in a statement.

"Angel Salas, a precious 9-year-old New Yorker who tragically lost his life after an alleged drunk driver hit the car he was in, became an organ donor hero after his family generously gave the gift of life," he said.

"As this case clearly illustrates, drunk and drug-impaired drivers are a danger to our communities and often times cause collisions which turn fatal for innocent victims," said Tierney. "A child lost their life because of the selfish actions of the defendant. I hope that this prison sentence brings some small degree of solace to the victim’s family, who are undoubtedly still grieving his loss."