Nassau Woman Indicted In Connection With Striking Triathlon Athlete At Smith Point

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Nassau woman has been indicted in connection with striking a bicyclist with her vehicle in a triathlon at Smith Point County Park back in August, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Wednesday.

Jakeline Figueroa, 29, of Westbury, was indicted on charges of second-degree assault, a felony. She was also charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, circumvention of an interlock device, all misdemeanors, as well as speeding.

Tierney said the assault could have been avoided.

“There was no need for this defendant to allegedly drive while speeding inside of a parking lot even if there was not a race taking place," he said. "Motorists must always remain cautious and prudent while driving to avoid endangering the lives of pedestrians.”

On Aug. 6, at around 7:15 a.m., Figueroa was driving a 2023 Nissan Rogue when she allegedly struck the 44-year-old victim while speeding, while he was competing in a triathlon event in the parking lot, prosecutors said.

Spectators at the event saw Figueroa driving eastbound through a marked travel lane in the parking lot "at a fast rate," and she caused the collision when she drove through a stop bar on the pavement and into the portion of the parking lot designated for the participants of the race, prosecutors said.

Upon impact, the man was thrown from the bike, landing on the windshield of Figueroa’s vehicle, and then struck the pavement, according to prosecutors.

He was taken by helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was admitted with a traumatic brain injury and a cervical spine fracture, prosecutors said.

At the time of the crash, Figueroa was driving the vehicle with a suspended license and without a previously court-ordered ignition interlock device, according to prosecutors.

Figueroa, who was placed on supervised release and her license suspended, is due back in court on Jan. 30.

Her attorney, Michael Brown of Central Islip, was not immediately available for comment.