On December 21, 2010, New York City firefighter Pat Quagliariello, 39, was arraigned on charges including criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident before Judge John G. Ingram in Kings County Court. The District Attorney’s Office has alleged that on October 10, 2010, at approximately 12:30 AM, Mr. Quagliariello was texting and speeding while driving his BMW X3 at the intersection of 65th Street and 20th Avenue, when his vehicle struck and killed Manuel Tzaj Guachiac, a 35 year old Guatemalan immigrant.
It is further alleged that after the accident, Quagliariello fled the scene and left Mr. Guachiac to die, according to Craig Esswein, the ADA appearing at the arraignment for the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Quagliariello then abandoned his car and contacted relatives, including his brother, Anthony Quagliariello, who is a detective with the NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force. The BMW was apparently located about a block from Mr. Quagliariello’s home in Midwood. The DA’s office also claims that records revealed that Quagliariello was texting at the time of the collision and made calls which place him at the accident scene.
Mr. Guachiac had returned to New York from Guatemala in the spring after visiting his parents and was going home from a late shift at his second job when the fatal accident occurred.
Mr. Quagliariello was also charged with reckless driving and several traffic infractions. He pled not guilty and was released on $50,000 bail. Mr. Quagliariello could face up a minimum of 1 year and maximum of 4 years in jail on the criminally negligent homicide charge if convicted.
If you are charged with a crime or traffic violation, contact the Westchester County Criminal Defense Lawyers at the White Plains, New York Law Office Of Mark A. Siesel toll free at (914) 428-7386 for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.