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Dana King, Jr., 23, was arraigned Tuesday, May 7, for the March 18, crash that killed a father of two children, Jim Hayes Jr., 22, of Hempstead, said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.
The incident began around 11:30 p.m., when Hayes, picked up, Isabel Rodriguez, from her Valley Stream home in a lime green 2007 BMW. About a block from the house, the woman noticed her ex-boyfriend, King, driving a black 2009 Audi behind them, the DA's Office said.
King then allegedly began to chase their vehicle at a high rate of speed from Valley Stream to Hempstead; at times making contact with the BMW, said the DA's Office.
While on Baldwin Avenue in Hempstead, King's vehicle allegedly struck the Audi causing it to become airborne and crash into a tree. The force of the crash caused King's vehicle to continue out-of-control, crashing into two parked cars, spinning, and ultimately coming to rest several hundred feet from the initial area of impact, the DA's Office said.
The impact killed Hayes, who was pronounced dead at the scene and caused serious injury to Rodriguez, who was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where she was treated for a broken arm and broken back.
“This defendant allegedly could not accept that his relationship with his ex-girlfriend was over and as a result, Jim Hayes, Jr. lost his life,” Singas said. “The allegations of very high speeds, chasing and striking the car paint a picture of extreme recklessness and a lack of regard for the lives of anyone in the defendant’s way.”
Bail was continued at $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash. King is due back in court on June 10. If convicted of the top count, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
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