A North Bellport man was indicted for allegedly striking a pedestrian when he was walking on the Sunrise Highway Service Road in Bay Shore. Later that night, he was also arrested for allegedly driving while impaired by Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and for allegedly driving with a suspended license.
On February 13 at approximately 1:15 a.m., Andrew Holmes-Garriques was driving his 2008 Mercedes-Benz eastbound on the South Service Road of Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore when he allegedly struck Korey Klein, 37, a pedestrian, from behind. The crash caused debris to be scattered across the roadway. Holmes-Garriques then allegedly fled the scene without rendering aid to the victim, and without reporting the incident to law enforcement.
Hours later, Holmes-Garriques allegedly drove back to the scene of the collision. At approximately 5:15 a.m., a passenger in the defendant’s vehicle called 911. Members of the Bay Shore Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance arrived and pronounced the victim deceased. Suffolk County police also arrived and allegedly found Holmes-Garriques sitting in the driver’s seat of the Mercedes. While speaking with Holmes-Garriques, officers allegedly observed a strong odor of marijuana emanating from his person. Holmes-Garriques also allegedly performed poorly on Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. As a result, he was placed under arrest for Driving While Impaired by Drugs at the scene. It was also determined that Holmes-Garriques’ privilege to drive in New York State had been suspended.
The investigation into the fatal crash continued following the arrest. Surveillance video recovered by law enforcement allegedly depicts Holmes-Garriques driving the Mercedes shortly before the incident, and without damage to the vehicle. A subsequent surveillance video allegedly depicts the defendant operating the same Mercedes with a damaged driver’s-side headlight, after the incident occurred and several hours earlier than when the 911 call was placed.
On May 1, Holmes-Garriques, 27, was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro for the following charges:
- Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony
- Driving While Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified Misdemeanor
- Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, an Unclassified Misdemeanor
“Driving is a privilege, not a right. When your license is suspended, you cannot legally drive on our roadways,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “This defendant’s license to drive in New York State was allegedly suspended when he allegedly struck and killed Korey Klein, and when he was later arrested the same night for allegedly driving while impaired by marijuana. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who violate our vehicle and traffic laws in Suffolk County.”
Ambro ordered Holmes-Garriques held on $75,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.
Holmes-Garriques is due back in court on June 1 and faces up to 2-1/3 to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count.