A Southampton man has been indicted for leaving the scene of a crash after hitting a pedestrian, who later died from his injuries.
On March 6, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Benjamin Sheen-Waltzer allegedly struck Angel Asitimbay of Hampton Bays with his 2024 GMC pickup truck. Until the impact, Asitimbay had been walking on a residential roadway pushing a shopping cart filled with glass bottles and cans. Sheen-Waltzer was traveling just south of Neptune Avenue on Springville Road when he allegedly struck Asitimbay from behind.
Asitimbay, 67, was thrown forward, with his body finally coming to rest on the shoulder of the southbound lane. The crash also caused the glass bottles and cans to be scattered along the road. Asitimbay was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center and pronounced dead shortly after he arrived. After the crash, Sheen-Waltzer allegedly continued to flee and drive away from the scene.
Among the debris collected at the scene was an “M” that was part of the GMC emblem that was discovered on the roadway. Video surveillance allegedly captured Sheen-Waltzer’s pickup truck
traveling on Springville Road with front-end damage. Specifically, the vehicle was allegedly missing the “M” part of the GMC emblem. Southampton Police ultimately found the 2024 GMC pick-up truck at Sheen-Waltzer’s Southampton residence, with the entire “GMC” front emblem allegedly missing. Police later located the “G” and “C” parts of the purported emblem at Sheen-Waltzer’s place of employment inside a different vehicle allegedly registered to him.
A search warrant on the GPS device of the 2024 GMC pickup truck revealed data consistent with Sheen-Waltzer’s alleged path of travel leading up to and following the deadly hit-and-run crash. On November 15, 2024, Sheen-Waltzer, 32, was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr., for Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a
Class D felony, and Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony. Senft ordered Sheen-Waltzer held on $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond or $250,000 partially secured bond and suspended Sheen-Waltzer’s driving privileges during the pendency of the case.
“The indictment handed down today reflects the gravity of this tragic and preventable loss of life,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Our streets and roadways are shared spaces where pedestrians have every right to feel safe. The defendant’s alleged actions show a complete disregard for human life and the basic principle that our roadways belong to everyone, drivers and pedestrians alike.”
Sheen-Waltzer is due back in court on December 18 and faces 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison if convicted on the top count.