Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that
A Hempstead man was arraigned on grand jury indictment charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and other related charges for an October 2022 crash in which a 26-year-old man was killed, and three other occupants of the defendant’s car — including his teenage son — were injured.
Donnell Hill, 51, was arraigned on August 29 before Judge Terence Murphy on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide (a B felony), second-degree manslaughter (a C felony), two counts of second-degree assault (a D violent felony), second-degree vehicular manslaughter and first-degree vehicular assault (both D felonies), second-degree vehicular assault and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child (both E felonies), third-degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree reckless endangerment (all A misdemeanors), two counts of DWI (an unclassified misdemeanor), and reckless driving (an unclassified misdemeanor).
Hill pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $250,000 bond, $125,000 cash, or $1 million partially secured at 10%.
At approximately 10:36 p.m. on October 29, 2022, Hill was driving his blue 2018 Dodge Charger eastbound on Jerusalem Avenue in Hempstead with four passengers. Hill, who was a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, was driving toward Ingraham Boulevard at an allegedly high rate of speed and in an intoxicated state when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the westbound lanes of travel, and crashed into a tree. He allegedly drove his car in a “doughnut” pattern at least twice on a public roadway just before the crash.
Rear passenger Xavier Parris, 26, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered extensive injuries. He was pronounced dead at NYU Langone Hospital Long Island at 2:11 a.m. Two of the other three occupants of the vehicle, including Hill’s then-13-year-old son, were treated for various injuries at Nassau University Medical Center.
Hill was arrested at the scene by members of the Hempstead and Nassau County Police Departments. He is due back in court on September 20, 2023, and, if convicted of the top charge, faces a potential maximum of 8-1/3 years to 25 years in prison.
“Donnell Hill – a professional bus driver – was allegedly both drunk and speeding when he crashed his muscle car into a tree and killed one of his passengers and injured two others – including his 13-year-old son,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “The defendant’s actions that evening showed a complete disregard for everyone on the roadway. A 26-year-old man died due to the allegedly reckless actions of this defendant and my office will vigorously prosecute this case.”