(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Jhonny Chavarria-Argueta, 20, who is accused of driving his vehicle while intoxicated and at a high rate of speed, which resulted in a crash that killed his front seat passenger, who was ejected from the vehicle. Chavarria-Argueta then allegedly fled from the scene of the crash.
“The acts allegedly committed by the defendant were reckless, callous and irresponsible,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Not only did he allegedly drive drunk and crash at a high rate of speed, he demonstrated an utter lack of compassion when he left his passenger to die alone rather than remain at the scene to render aid and seek assistance.”
Chavarria-Argueta is charged with:
One count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
One count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class D felony;
One count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony;
One count of Driving While Intoxicated, a Class U misdemeanor;
One count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and
One count of Reckless Driving, a Class U misdemeanor.
According to court documents, on September 18, 2022 at approximately 4:20 a.m., Chavarria-Argueta, drove a rented 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe while intoxicated by alcohol. The defendant was driving eastbound on the Southern State Parkway in the area of the Robert Moses Causeway near exit 40, at an extremely high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle, hitting the median guardrail. After striking the guardrail, the vehicle flipped multiple times and finally came to a rest on its nose against the Robert Moses Causeway overpass. Front seat passenger Jessica Gonzalez, 19, was ejected from the vehicle and died from the injuries sustained in the crash. Following the crash, the defendant climbed out of the vehicle and fled the scene.
On December 7, 2022, Chavarria-Argueta was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei and is being held on $500K cash, $1 Million bond or $10 Million partially secured bond. Additionally, Judge Mazzei suspended Chavarria-Argueta’s license. He is due back in court on December 20, 2022.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Maggie Bopp of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.