Jhonny Chavarria-Argueta, of Bay Shore, pleaded guilty to the charges against him on Thursday, April 20, the Suffolk County District Attorney announced.
The September 2022 incident killed Jessica Gonzalez, age 19, of Commack. She was a passenger in the car and was ejected after Chavarria-Argueta lost control of the vehicle.
“This defendant’s selfish actions in driving drunk and speeding resulted in the death of this young woman, who was a defenseless passenger in his vehicle,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
“The defendant’s selfishness continued even after the crash, when he refused to stay and render her aid, and, instead, cowardly ran away in an attempt to avoid being caught by law enforcement.”
According to court documents and his guilty plea, Chavarria-Argueta was driving a rented 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe after consuming alcohol.
He was going east on the Southern State Parkway when he lost control of the car and struck the median guardrail.
The vehicle flipped multiple times before coming to rest on its nose against the Robert Moses Causeway overpass, near Exit 40.
Chavarria-Argueta climbed out of the car and fled the scene on foot, leaving Gonzales, who died from the injuries she sustained.
In all, he pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Second-degree manslaughter;
- Second-degree vehicular manslaughter;
- Leaving the scene of an incident without reporting; and
- Driving while intoxicated.
Chavarria-Argueta is due back in court on Thursday, June 1. He faces four to 12 years in prison.
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