Allegedly Drove under the Influence of Cannabis at 123 Miles per Hour
A Queens man was indicted for his alleged role in a fatal high-speed crash in January that killed his 21-year-old sister and another 23-year-old female passenger. It was alleged that he was driving under the influence of cannabis at speeds of over 100 miles per hour.
On January 12 at approximately 11:05 p.m., Jaden D’Souza was driving a 2016 Dodge Dart eastbound on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 30, carrying his sister, 21-year-old Haily D’Souza and 23-year-old Crystal Alba-Figueroa in the backseat, and another 23-year-old male passenger in the front seat. D’Souza was allegedly traveling in and out of lanes at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle, drove off the road, and crashed into a tree on the grassy shoulder. The vehicle came to rest upside down on the shoulder. During the crash, a spare tire became dislodged from the vehicle and struck another vehicle traveling eastbound on the Southern State Parkway, causing that vehicle to crash into a guardrail, injuring the driver.
Alba-Figueroa was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene. Haily D’Souza was trapped in the rear passenger seat and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 23-year-old male passenger was taken to Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) with serious physical injuries, including spinal fractures and a traumatic brain injury. Jaden D’Souza was transported to NUMC and treated for his injuries.
During the investigation of the crash, police allegedly recovered several cannabis products in the crash debris and in the vehicle, including THC-infused products, rolling papers, a bong, and lighters.
A search warrant for the defendant’s hospital blood taken the evening of the crash revealed the sample contained a high level of the active and impairing component of cannabis.
The event data recorder inside of the defendant’s vehicle showed that the defendant was allegedly driving 123 miles per hour when he lost control of the vehicle.
D’Souza, 20, was arraigned on April 23 before Judge Caryn Fink on grand jury indictment charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a Class B felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree and two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (all Class C felonies); two counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (both Class D felonies); three counts of Assault in the Second Degree (all Class D violent felonies); Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree (a Class E felony); Assault in the Third Degree (a Class A misdemeanor); Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Reckless Driving (both unclassified misdemeanors).
His bail was continued at $500,000 bond. He is due back in court on June 2. If convicted, he faces up to 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison.
“Jaden D’Souza was allegedly high on marijuana, zipping through traffic, and flooring the gas when he lost control and flipped his car into a tree on the shoulder of the Southern State Parkway,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “The impact from the horrific crash violently ejected Crystal Alba-Figueroa from the vehicle and trapped the defendant’s 21-year-old sister Haily in the backseat, killing them both. The defendant’s front seat passenger barely made it out of the crash alive, with significant physical injuries and brain trauma. Evidence of the defendant’s alleged drug use, including numerous packages of THC-infused products, were found in the vehicle and scattered around the debris field. Driving high is driving impaired. It is never a safe choice, and it can have catastrophic, heartbreaking consequences. Our thoughts are with Crystal and Haily’s families as we prosecute this preventable tragedy.”