111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116
Oct. 13, 2015 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Efren Moreano (DOB 12/28/1994) of 46 Bennett Avenue, Yonkers New York, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with:
- one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class "C" Felony,
- one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a class "D" Felony,
- three counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, class "D" Felonies,
- three counts of Driving While Intoxicated, unclassified Misdemeanors under the Vehicle and Traffic Law and
- one count of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a Violation.
On Feb. 27, 2015 at approximately 3:45 a.m. Moreano, while behind the wheel of a Honda Civic sedan, drove northbound, on to the southbound Jackson Avenue exit of the Sprain Brook Parkway in Greenburgh and entered the parkway going in the wrong direction.
At the same time, the victim, an NYPD detective who was driving his Honda Pilot S.U.V. on his way to work at a police precinct in Queens, entered the Sprain Brook Parkway from the Route 100-B entrance heading south.
He was two miles into his commute when the defendant struck his vehicle head on. The victim was killed instantly. The defendant sustained serious injuries to his right arm and leg and needed to be extricated from his vehicle. The defendant subsequently underwent surgery on these non-life threatening injuries.
During the extrication, emergency responders detected a strong odor of alcohol on the defendant. Additionally, a New York State Trooper smelled marijuana coming from the defendant's car and observed a small bag of marijuana on the passenger side of the car.
An accident investigation revealed that Moreano was traveling at approximately 100 miles per hour at the time of the head on collision.
Toxicology results show that the defendant had a blood alcohol level of .16 along with marijuana in his system at the time of the collision.
Moreano was arrested and arraigned on a felony complaint at the hospital.
The defendant was later remanded to the Westchester County jail without bail. His remand continues.
The defendant's next court date is Nov. 2, 2015.
He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.
Deputy District Attorney Timothy Ward, of the Superior Court Trial Division is prosecuting the case.
In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
