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Alleged Drunk Driver Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter After Fatal Collision in Jackson Heights

An alleged drunk driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and other crimes after a fatal collision in Jackson Heights early Saturday (Photo: Google Maps)

Nov. 28, 2022 By Michael Dorgan

An alleged drunk driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and other crimes after a fatal collision with a scooter rider in Jackson Heights early Saturday.

Jairo Ortiz, 24, who was allegedly driving a BMW drunk, was traveling southbound on 82nd Street at around 1:15 a.m., when a scooter driver plowed into his vehicle at the intersection at 37th Avenue, police said.

The victim, who has not been identified, was riding a motorized scooter westbound on 37th Avenue when he struck Ortiz’s 2021 BMW sedan, police said. It is unclear which motorist had the right of way.

The scooter rider was transported to EMS NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst with head trauma where he was pronounced dead.

Ortiz, of 26th Avenue in Linden Hill, was arrested at the scene. He has also been charged with driving while intoxicated, driving without a license and insurance, as well as driving an unregistered vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing by the NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad.

The NYPD did not provide any further details.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

8 Comments

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Jorge Colon

I would like to know the immigration status of both drivers. Unfortunately NYC is a”Sanctuary City” so this question can never be asked or answered.

The terms “scooter” and “moped” are often confused in these Queens Post articles (sloppy, lazy reporting). Was this scooter gas or battery powered? Was it a peddle assist bicycle?

Gas powered scooters require: 1) NYS vehicle registration and plates. 2) insurance. 3) annual inspections. 4) Helmets are mandatory. and 5) a licensed operator. [with a motorcycle endorsement if over 49cc]. The vast majority of these break one or more of these laws and therefore are illegally operated.

As for E-bikes (with pedals) they must follow hey must follow all “rules of the road”, be careful. However they are big fire risks, which is a concern I have when I see them on packed subway cars.

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Javier

Why are you always questioning the immigration status of others on almost every post? Your name doesn’t sound very American.

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Javier

I’m sure theres video somewhere. However, I have almost crashed into many of these scooters while SOBER! Because since they are not registered, and the rider doesn’t need a license, they don’t follow the laws of the road. Condolences to the scooter riders family unless its the douche who’s been robbing young kids and the elderly.

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GK Hoff

If they don’t know who had the right of way, a manslaughter charge will be hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. I hope he does time for the other charges, but most likely he will be back on the streets soon in another unregistered, uninsured car.

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Illegals go home

Did he have documents? Probably not. Illegal infested neighborhood. They are allowed to kill people and get away. If it was an American citizen, they would have stayed at the accident.

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Javier

I love it when bigots post anonymously. I assume you didn’t read the article because the driver DID remain on the scene and was arrested. The other guy was obviously at the scene as well since he was dead. Maybe if you erased the hate, your reading comprehension would be better.

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