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April 18, 2016 -- Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty announced that Efren Moreano (DOB 12/28/1994) of 46 Bennett Ave., Yonkers, NY, pled guilty today to the following charges:

  • 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,
  • one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony.

On Feb. 27, 2015 at approximately 3:52 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. He traveled for approximately two miles during which time he forced numerous drivers heading in the right direction to take evasive action, forcing some off the road.

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 and marijuana on the defendant. Additionally, a New York State Trooper observed a small bag of marijuana on the passenger side of the car.

An accident investigation revealed that Moreano was traveling at approximately 105 miles per hour at the time of the head on collision.

Toxicology results show that the defendant had a blood alcohol level of .16 and marijuana in his system at the time of the collision.

Moreano’s remand continues.

He is due to be sentenced on June 1, 2016.

He faces an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment having a maximum term of not less than 3 years and not more than 15 years, and a minimum term of not less than 1 year and not more than one-third the maximum term. Thus, the least such sentence is one to three years, and the greatest such sentence is five to 15 years.

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.