Photo: Adam Gray / Getty Images News / Getty Images
A 25-year-old driver, Daveanand Budhai, faces multiple charges after a hit-and-run incident that killed construction worker Isabel Alvarez on Friday evening in Queens, New York. The tragic event occurred on the Nassau Expressway near the Van Wyck Expressway, where Alvarez, 44, was directing traffic in a safety zone around a construction site.
According to ABC7NY, Budhai was driving a 2018 Infiniti Q50S at high speed when he struck Alvarez, who was wearing her safety gear, including a hard hat and reflective vest. After the collision, Budhai fled the scene but was later apprehended by police near South Conduit Avenue and 134th Street. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for minor injuries before being placed into custody.
The Queens District Attorney's Office announced that Budhai has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, leaving the scene of a fatality without reporting, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. If convicted of the most serious charge, Budhai could face up to 22 years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 26.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez expressed her condolences and emphasized the importance of highway safety. She urged drivers to slow down and respect work zones to prevent such tragedies.
Photo Credit: Getty Images