A Valley Stream man was indicted for striking and killing a pedestrian in Hempstead while allegedly intoxicated and under the influence of alcohol and opioids on Halloween 2025.
On October 31, 2025, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Jose Forero was driving a 2023 Jeep Gladiator southbound in the left lane on N. Franklin Street in Hempstead. The victim, 23-year-old William Rojas, was crossing N. Franklin Street eastbound between Jackson Street and Centre Street with a group of friends.
Rojas stopped in the left lane of travel to pick something up in the street when Forero allegedly drove through a yellow light and struck the victim. The defendant stopped and witnesses called emergency services.
The victim was transported to NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island with significant injuries, including skull fractures. He was pronounced dead at approximately 3:28 a.m.
The investigation determined that after dropping off a family member at a Halloween party, Forero allegedly went to a bar in Garden City, where he consumed alcoholic drinks.
Blood drawn from the defendant revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was .12%, approximately an hour and a half after the crash. Testing also revealed the presence of Tramadol, an opioid.
Forero, 72, was arrested on November 1, 2025, by the Hempstead Police Department and Nassau County Police Department. He was arraigned on January 30, 2026 before Judge Robert Schwartz on grand jury indictment charges of Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a Class C felony); Driving While Intoxicated Per Se, Driving While Intoxicated and Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Alcohol and Any Drug (all Class E felonies).
The defendant pleaded not guilty and remains remanded. He is due back in court on February 20, 2026. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 5 to 15 years in prison.
“This defendant is a recidivist drunk driver, previously convicted of a Leandra’s Law DWI in Nassau County seven years ago. After dropping off a family member at a Halloween get-together, Forero allegedly made the careless decision to stop off at a bar to drink before driving home. A choice that tragically sealed the fate of William Rojas,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Another preventable tragedy, and life lost, because of drunk driving.”