A Baldwin woman was sentenced to up to 18 years in prison for a May 2022 high-speed crash that killed a 66-year-old man.
Jinaraya Khan, 33, pleaded guilty on December 18, 2023, to aggravated vehicular homicide (a B felony), second-degree assault (a D violent felony), and aggravated driving while intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor). She was sentenced on March 27 before Judge Robert Bogle to six to 18 years in prison. The Nassau County District Attorney’s office recommended a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison.
On May 3, 2022, at approximately 5:16 a.m., Scott Freeman attempted to make a left turn in his 2011 Toyota Corolla onto Grand Avenue near his home. The 66-year-old Baldwin resident was then struck by a 2020 BMW X3 driven by Khan, who was highly intoxicated and speeding northbound on Grand Avenue. Freeman was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Khan remained at the scene and was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department. She claimed that she had consumed two mimosas and was late for work at John F. Kennedy Airport.
She was then transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the collision. A search warrant for the defendant’s blood taken at the hospital revealed that her blood alcohol content was 0.25%, more than three times the legal limit, 42 minutes after the crash.
An analysis of the defendant’s vehicle’s crash data recorder revealed that Khan was traveling at 96 miles per hour at the time of collision. The speed limit on Grand Avenue at that location is 35 miles per hour.
“Scott Freeman was a hard-working and kind man who had dreams of retiring to the south in a year’s time,” said Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly. “Those dreams came to a tragic end when just down the street from his home in Baldwin, Jinaraya Khan struck his vehicle at 96 miles an hour and killed him. The defendant was so intoxicated that [her blood alcohol content was] more than three times the legal limit … 40 minutes after the crash. Drunk driving destroys lives. It cost Scott Freeman his life and the defendant her freedom. Our thoughts remain with Scott’s family and friends as they continue to mourn his loss.”