A Hicksville man has been indicted for allegedly being involved in a drunk driving crash in Westbury that killed a bicyclist.
On October 27, at about 3:40 a.m., Wilfredo Blanco Molina, 41, was driving a 2006 Chrysler Sebring east on Old County Road when he allegedly hit Robert McCarthy, 69, who was riding his bicycle near the intersection of State Street. McCarthy was thrown from his bicycle into a telephone pole and pronounced dead at the scene.
Molina allegedly fled the scene and continued east on Old Country Road for about a quarter mile before his car stopped due to a flat tire.
Officers approached the disabled vehicle to offer help and noticed the flat passenger-side front tire, significant damage to the passenger-side headlight and mirror, as well as blood along the passenger-side fender.
Molina allegedly had a blood alcohol content of .22 about two hours after the collision and allegedly had cocaine in his system. He was also allegedly found to have cocaine in his pocket when he was arrested.
The investigation found that Molina had allegedly been drinking at a bar hours before the collision.
Nassau County officers arrested Molina on October 27.
Molina was arraigned on March 17 before Judge Meryl Berkowitz on the following grand jury indictment charges:
- Aggravated Homicide (a Class B felony)
- Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a Class C felony)
- Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a Class D felony)
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a Class C felony)
- Assault in the Second Degree (a Class D violent felony)
- Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (a Class D felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (a Class A misdemeanor)
- Aggravating Driving While Intoxicated Per Se (an unclassified misdemeanor)
- Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs and Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor)
Molina pleaded not guilty, and bail was continued at $10,000 cash, $50,000 bond, and $250,000 partially secured bond. He is scheduled back in court on April 9. If convicted, Molina faces up to 10-⅔ to 32 years in jail.
“Robert McCarthy was riding his bicycle near the curb, with a reflective vest and lights to make motorists aware of his presence on the road, but this defendant, allegedly more than twice the legal limit for alcohol and impaired by cocaine, never saw him,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne. T. Donnelly. “Robert was thrown from his bicycle into a telephone pole and died at the scene. Rather than stop and call for help, this defendant allegedly continued to drive away from the crash until a flat tire prevented him from going any further. We cannot continue to lose innocent pedestrians and bicyclists to reckless and selfish drunk drivers.”