A Bellport woman has been indicted for leaving the scene of a crash that caused the death of a firefighter.
Maria Guallpa-Bonilla, 36, of Bellport, was indicted for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting and driving in violation of a license restriction, for allegedly causing the death of Christopher Hlavaty, 22, of East Patchogue, a volunteer firefighter for the Hagerman Fire Department, after a hit-and-run crash.
On the evening of June 10, at approximately 10:47 p.m., Guallpa-Bonilla allegedly left her job in Patchogue and began to drive home alone in a blue 2001 Mercury Cougar. At the time, Guallpa-Bonilla only had a New York State driving permit which required her to be with a licensed driver while she operated a vehicle.
While Guallpa-Bonilla was making a left-hand turn onto Rider Avenue, she allegedly struck Hlavaty, who was riding his 2008 Suzuki motorcycle, and then ran over him. Guallpa-Bonilla then allegedly fled the scene without stopping, rendering aid to
Hlavaty, or reporting the collision to law enforcement. Hlavaty died later that night as a result of the injuries he sustained from the crash.
Law enforcement found car parts at the scene of the collision and later determined that they belonged to a 2001 Mercury Cougar. Two days later, police located the vehicle covered by a tarp in Guallpa-Bonilla’s driveway. The car parts recovered from the scene allegedly matched the damage seen on her car.
On July 18, Guallpa-Bonilla was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, a Class D felony, and driving in violation of restrictions on her permit, a traffic infraction.
“This defendant’s alleged actions in leaving a man to die in the road after striking him and running over his body, were callous and unconscionable,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Christopher Hlavaty was loved by his community and dedicated his time to helping others as a volunteer firefighter. We will seek justice for Mr. Hlavaty and his loved ones.”