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Oct. 6, 2016 -- Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty announced today that Zachary Tokson (DOB 07/18/92) of 9 Seymour Lane, Armonk, NY pled guilty to the following:

• one count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a class “B” Felony,
• one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a class “E” Felony,

in the death of Elena Lopez.  

On Dec. 13, 2015 at approximately 5:49 a.m., the defendant was driving a white Lexus SUV northbound in the southbound lanes of I-684 within the Town of Bedford.

At mile marker 16.8, the SUV collided head on with the victim who was driving a gray Ford Focus station wagon. The victim died instantly on impact from multiple blunt force trauma injuries.

The defendant suffered a laceration over his right eye.  His passenger suffered serious injuries that required hospitalization including broken ribs, a dislocated femur, and lacerations of the liver and spleen. She survived.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant had been drinking hours earlier at a bar in Brewster. After leaving the bar and having stopped for some food, the defendant and his passenger proceeded south on I-684. They stopped at the Bedford Rest area to take a nap.

The defendant woke up and began driving the wrong way on I-684 for approximately 1.1 miles prior to the collision.

A search of his vehicle revealed a closed empty bottle of whiskey and a mixed alcohol drink inside a closed soda bottle. The defendant had a BAC in excess of .08.

He was placed under arrest by New York State Police.

Defendant remains out on bail.

He will be sentenced on Jan. 12, 2017.   

The defendant faces a maximum of eight-and-a-third to twenty-five years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Nicholas DiCostanzo 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.