MINEOLA, NY – Today in Nassau County, Elvin Maradiaga Ortiz, a 33-year-old man from Hempstead, was arraigned on multiple charges including manslaughter, following a fatal incident in February where he allegedly drove drunk and crashed into a pole. The crash resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to another.
Ortiz faced Judge Christopher Quinn, pleading not guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter, among others. He was remanded into custody with a court date set for July 18, 2024. If convicted, Ortiz could face between 7-1/2 to 15 years in prison for the top charge.
District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly detailed that after the crash on Jerusalem Avenue, which flipped the vehicle and killed 35-year-old Alex Banegas Figueroa, Ortiz fled the scene on foot. Surveillance video reportedly shows Ortiz spending several hours drinking excessively at a local bar prior to the accident. “There is no excuse for drinking and driving,” DA Donnelly stated, emphasizing the severe consequences of such reckless actions.
Figueroa was found unconscious in the backseat of the Jeep and later died from his injuries at Nassau University Medical Center on March 1, 2024. The crash has highlighted the critical dangers associated with driving under the influence and has prompted renewed calls for public awareness and stricter enforcement of DUI laws.