Prosecutors allege driver fled after striking woman crossing Jamaica Avenue before later calling 911
QUEENS, NY — A Bronx man has been indicted on manslaughter and other charges after prosecutors allege he struck and killed a pedestrian while driving in a bus-only lane on Jamaica Avenue before fleeing the scene and later calling 911 to report a medical emergency.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Darius Adams, 28, was arraigned on an indictment charging him with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving and an unsafe lane change.
According to prosecutors, the crash occurred at approximately 3:04 p.m. on March 11 near Jamaica Avenue and Parsons Boulevard.
Investigators allege Adams was driving a 2001 Lincoln LS westbound on Jamaica Avenue, where only buses are permitted between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. An MTA bus had stopped to allow 58-year-old Suzanne Schmieder, of Queens, to cross the street.
Prosecutors allege Adams swerved around the stopped bus and struck Schmieder, throwing her into the air before she landed on the roadway and slid beneath a parked vehicle.
Schmieder was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than an hour after the collision.
Authorities allege Adams fled without stopping to render aid or notify police.
According to the indictment, at approximately 11 p.m. that evening, Adams called 911 and reported he was experiencing a medical emergency. Police responded to the area where he was standing near the parked Lincoln and, after he directed officers to identification inside the vehicle, observed front-end damage, a broken side mirror and scratches on the hood.
During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly recovered multiple liquor bottles. Prosecutors said fingerprint testing identified Adams’ fingerprints inside the car.
Adams was remanded following his arraignment before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis and is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 13 before Justice Michael Hartofilis.
If convicted of the top charges, Adams faces more than 15 years in prison.
The charges are allegations, and Adams is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- A Bronx man was indicted on manslaughter and other charges in a fatal Queens hit-and-run.
- Prosecutors allege he drove around a stopped MTA bus in a bus-only lane before striking and killing a pedestrian.
- The defendant is accused of fleeing the scene before later calling 911 to report a medical emergency.
