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Long Island Man Admits To Manslaughter In Drug-Fueled Crash That Killed Minister

A 24-year-old man involved in a drug-fueled crash that killed a minister has admitted to manslaughter, police say.

Nassau County District Attorney

Nassau County District Attorney

Photo Credit: Nassau County District Attorney

Christopher Gomez-Almendarez, of Baldwin, pleaded guilty to the following charges on Friday, Nov. 15:

  • Second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony
  • Second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony
  • Driving while ability impaired by a combination of drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor

Gomez-Almendarez drove his Honda Civic at a high speed while high on alprazolam and fentanyl westbound on the Southern State Parkway and rear-ended a GMC SUV between exits 29 and 30 on Friday, April 19, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

The impact of the collision caused the SUV, driven by 69-year-old Reverend Chacko Mammen, to crash into several trees on the side of the road.

Gomez-Almendarez is expected to be sentenced to six years, concurrent to two and a half years to seven years in prison, on Jan. 24, 2020, officials say. Prosecutors recommended the maximum sentence of between five and 15 years for the manslaughter charge and seven years for the assault charge.

Mammen, a minister at the Long Island Mar Thoma Church in Merrick, was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. His wife, Wilsy Mammen, a front-seat passenger in the vehicle, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Singas.

Crash data showed the defendant was driving between 86 mph and 91 mph in the seconds leading up to the crash and that he failed to slow down or brake before his vehicle collided with Mammen’s car.

“Reverend Mammen was a father of five children and a cherished community and church leader when his life was tragically cut short by this defendant,” said Singas. “The combination of the defendant’s speed and his drug impairment was lethal to anyone in his path. Our condolences remain with his family, friends and parishioners.”

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