111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
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Sept. 24, 2014 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Jose Ramirez (DOB 08/20/89) of 11 Grandview Avenue, Norwalk Connecticut was arraigned today on an 11 count indictment charging him with:

• two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, class “B” Felonies
• one count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a class “C” Felony
• one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony
• one count of Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, a class “D” Felony
• two counts of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies,
• two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Class “A” Misdemeanors under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law
• one count of Speeding under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law
• one count of Reckless Driving under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law

On Feb. 28, 2014 at approximately 2:25 a.m. on I-95 North at the intersection of eastbound Interstate 287 in the City of Rye, the defendant was operating his vehicle at a high rate of speed, approximately 90 mph in a 55 mph speed zone and without braking, crashed his car into the back of a stationary DOT truck which was parked in a “safe-zone” gravel median strip.  The truck was equipped with a lighted arrow to alert traffic of construction work ahead. 

As a result of the crash, the DOT truck flipped over and landed on its hood.  The occupant of that vehicle sustained numerous serious physical injuries, including torn rotator cuffs of both shoulders requiring surgery and torn ligaments of both knees, requiring surgery.

Ramirez’s vehicle spun out and hit the divider.  The front seat passenger of the defendant’s vehicle, Kellman Villa-Santos, was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the injuries he sustained.

The back seat passenger, Emmanuel Gonzalez was rushed to Stamford Hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained as a result of the incident. He suffered traumatic brain injury, paralysis, loss of memory and a host of other injuries as a result of the incident.    

The defendant was taken to the hospital where he consented to a blood alcohol test which was determined to be .13.

He was subsequently arrested by New York State Police at the hospital.

Bail was continued at $75,000.

The defendant’s next court date will be on Dec. 22, 2014.

The defendant faces a maximum of twenty-five years in prison.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Paula Branca-Santos 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.