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Posted on: April 8, 2022

Uniondale Woman Indicted in Fatal Hempstead Drunk Driving Crash

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Tasha Brown was allegedly driving while intoxicated when she hit several parked cars at more than 90 mph, killing the 29-year-old occupant of one of the vehicles

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced the indictment of a Uniondale woman on charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, for allegedly driving while intoxicated at a high rate of speed and crashing into a parked vehicle in Hempstead, killing the occupant, in May 2021.

Tasha Brown, 28, was arraigned Friday, April 8, 2022, before Judge Howard Sturim on charges including two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony); Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a D felony); Aggravated Vehicular Assault (a C felony); Vehicular Assault in the First Degree (a D felony); Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree (a E felony); Assault in the Third Degree (an A misdemeanor); three counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D felony); Aggravated Driving while Intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor); two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence of Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor); Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor); and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and bail was continued at $100,000 bond and $50,000 cash. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of up to 25 years in prison. Brown is due back in court on May 10, 2022.

“This defendant was allegedly so intoxicated that she was unable to keep her vehicle on the road, veering and crashing into multiple parked cars at more than 90 mph, including one occupied by 29-year-old Nelson Fuentes who was tragically killed as a result of the collision. Brown’s passengers also sustained serious injuries in the crash and thankfully recovered,” said DA Donnelly. “Anyone can become a victim of drunk driving. It is imperative that we aggressively prosecute these cases to keep our roadways safe. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family at this time.”

DA Donnelly said, according to the indictment and investigation, on May 29, 2021, at approximately 4:35 a.m., the defendant, in a 2016 Toyota Corolla with three passengers, was driving west on Front Street at the intersection of Hendrickson Avenue in Hempstead, when she allegedly veered off the roadway and struck several parked cars traveling at a speed of more than 90 mph. One of those parked vehicles, a 2010 Toyota Corolla, was occupied by 29-year-old Nelson Fuentes.

Fuentes suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash, and the defendant and her passengers were also injured. 

Brown and her passengers were taken to Nassau University Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. 

The victim was pronounced dead at NUMC at 5:26 a.m. 

Brown was arrested on May 29, 2021, in Hempstead by detectives of the Hempstead Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexander DePalo of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by William J. Kephart, Esq.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty. 

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