QUEENS VILLAGE, N.Y. — A Nassau County man has been indicted on murder and related charges after allegedly running over a pedestrian and dragging him for several blocks while fleeing a collision scene in Queens last December, prosecutors said.
Warren Rollins, 49, of Elmont, was arraigned Monday on a four-count indictment including second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
The charges stem from a fatal crash on December 10, 2023, when 63-year-old Gary Charlotin was struck by a Toyota Camry while crossing Hempstead Avenue mid-block and thrown into the eastbound lane near 220th Street. Rollins, driving a Chevrolet Traverse, then struck Charlotin a second time, prosecutors said.
Rollins allegedly stopped his vehicle after the impact, and multiple eyewitnesses reportedly told him the victim was pinned under his car. Despite being urged not to move, Rollins is accused of driving away at high speed more than two minutes later, dragging the victim’s body several thousand feet before it became dislodged.
Victim found alive but died at scene
Charlotin was discovered near the Cross Island Parkway overpass, still alive but fatally injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.
“This was a horrific death for the victim,” DA Katz said. “The conduct displayed that evening demonstrates a complete disregard for human life.”
Rollins surrendered to police on Monday following a grand jury indictment and is due back in court on July 17. If convicted of the top charge, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
In a related case, Osman Zavala-Varela, 38, of Hempstead, who allegedly struck Charlotin first, has been charged separately with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting and tampering with physical evidence. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 10.
Prosecutors say Rollins ignored warnings that the victim was trapped under his vehicle and drove off, fatally dragging him across Queens Village.
