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Benjamin Sheen-Waltzer, of Southampton, was charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting and tampering with physical evidence after allegedly striking 67-year-old Angel Asitimbay with his GMC pickup truck on Wednesday, March 6 in Hampton Bays, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. as Asitimbay, of Hampton Bays, pushed a shopping cart filled with bottles and cans along Springville Road near Neptune Avenue.
Prosecutors say Sheen-Waltzer struck Asitimbay from behind, causing the victim to be thrown forward, where he came to rest on the shoulder.
Asitimbay was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Following the crash, Sheen-Waltzer allegedly drove away, leaving behind a debris field and evidence, including part of the GMC emblem from his truck.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Sheen-Waltzer’s vehicle with front-end damage, which led Southampton Police to his residence. They located the vehicle missing the emblem. Additional pieces of the emblem were later discovered at his workplace.
Sheen-Waltzer was arraigned on Friday, Nov. 15, and ordered held on $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, or a $250,000 partially secured bond.
His driving privileges were suspended pending the outcome of the case. If convicted, Sheen-Waltzer faces up to seven years in prison.
He is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
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