By Hector Flores
The accident killed three people and injured 12 others. All were passengers in a commuter van heading to a factory in Long Island.
According to New York state police, Chavez bumped one car and rammed into the van near Exit 28 in Wantagh. The van was bringing 15 Brooklyn residents to the Creative Bath and M&M Molding in Farmingdale.
Public assistance and eyewitness accounts lead police to Chavez. ³A thorough investigation coupled with the assistance of the motoring public, who felt compelled to contact the state police and provide information, resulted in a successful conclusion to this investigation,² said State Trooper Major Walter Heesch. ³Although initial witness accounts varied, investigators were able to locate additional witnesses who narrowed the field of suspects.² Chavez was arrested at his East Meadow home on Wednesday, June 29, said Katie Grilli Robles, a spokeswoman for the Nassau County district attorney.
The car Chavez was driving at the time of the accident, a 1992 Honda Civic, was also recovered along with spare parts and paint. He was allegedly trying to fix the damage his Honda sustained in the accident. Chavez was arraigned on June 30, before District Court Judge Margaret Reilly.
³He is being held on a $100,000 bail and is due back on July 5 for a conference,² Robles said. ³He is charged with leaving the scene of a fatal car accident, a class D felony punishable to up to seven years in prison, and tampering with physical evidence, a class E felony punishable for up to four years in prison.²
According to Robles, leaving the scene of a fatal car accident used to be a class E felony, but when Gov. George Pataki signed the new Vasean¹s Law on June 3 it increased penalties for that crime.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
