Man from Roosevelt Facing Charges in Connection to Fatal Crash

ROOSEVELT, NY- LongIsland.news12.com reports that a man from Roosevelt is facing manslaughter charges in relation to a fatal crash that killed his girlfriend. The driver was drag racing at the time of the collision.

The driver, 19-year-old Kevin Reyes was arraigned on October 16, 2018. According to prosecutors, Reyes was racing against another driver when he collided into a residence on Round Swamp Road. The vehicle smashed into the Plainview home’s second story.

The victim, 19-year-old Shakira Garcia from Westbury was killed in the accident. Garcia had an infant. There were two other passengers in the vehicle at the time; both sustained serious injuries. Reyes could be facing as much as 15 years in prison if he is convicted.

Illegal drag racing, which is also referred to as street racing, is a dangerous activity that often ends with tragic results. Following the release of The Fast and the Furious in 2001, the nation saw a spike in this deadly behavior. There are two different types of illegal drag racing. In one situation, groups of young people arrange a place to meet to race vehicles. The vehicles involved may be high performance, or illegally modified to make them faster.

In the other type of street racing, nothing is planned, but two drivers see one another on the road, and because of “too much testosterone,” or potentially alcohol, the drivers decide to race. This type of drag racing is considered the most dangerous because it often takes place in busy areas surrounded by cars and pedestrians. It is difficult to do anything about impulsive behaviors, but in some cities, groups have pushed to allow legal racing programs for young people in order to prevent the more organized illegal races. Most drivers involved in street races are men between the ages of 16 and 24.