Two men were indicted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for their roles in separate drunk driving incidents, both of which resulted in the deaths of other people.
Christopher Flores, 27, of Long Beach, was arraigned on April 11 before Judge Caryn Fink on charges of second-degree manslaughter and first-degree vehicular manslaughter (both C felonies); second-degree vehicular manslaughter (a D felony); second-degree assault (a D violent felony); driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs as a felony and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol as a felony (both E felonies); second-degree reckless endangerment (an A misdemeanor); and reckless driving (an unclassified misdemeanor).
Flores pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services. If convicted, he can face up to five to 15 years in prison.
According to the charges, on March 19, 2022, at approximately 11:53 p.m., Scott Brower was crossing Merrick Road at South Forest Avenue in a crosswalk when he was allegedly struck by Flores driving a 2020 BMW motorcycle eastbound on Merrick Road at a high rate of speed while allegedly intoxicated and high. Flores was thrown from the motorcycle, which crashed into another vehicle before finally coming to rest.
Brower was transported to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at 1:40 a.m. Flores also suffered significant physical injuries and was transported to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside for treatment. He was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department on March 20, 2022.
Oscar Argueta, 36, of Hicksville, was arraigned before Judge Robert McDonald on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide (a B felony); second-degree manslaughter (a C felony); second- degree vehicular manslaughter (a D felony); two counts of second-degree assault (a D violent felony); second-degree reckless endangerment (an A misdemeanor); reckless driving and two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (both unclassified misdemeanors).
Argueta pleaded not guilty, and bail was continued as release to pre-trial services. He is due back in court on May 16, 2023. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison.
According to the charges, on June 26, 2022, at approximately 1:40 a.m., Argueta was traveling northwest on Greenwich Street in Hempstead in a Dodge Durango while allegedly intoxicated and driving at a high rate of speed when he T-boned a Mercedes Benz G300 crossing the intersection on Curtis Avenue. The victims’ vehicle struck a curb, causing the car to flip into a utility pole. Forty-eight-year-old David Popoola and his wife were trapped inside of the vehicle after the collision.
Popoola was pronounced deceased at the scene. His wife was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital with serious physical injuries and underwent emergency surgery on her wrist. Argueta remained at the scene and was arrested by members of the Hempstead Police Department.
Argueta is due back in court on May 16. Flores is due back in court on May 30.