DRIVER CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN NOVEMBER SOUTH LEX WRONG WAY CRASH THAT KILLED ONE, INJURED ANOTHER

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erikrefvik

Eric Refvik

WPCNR WESTCHESTER DISTRICT ATTORNEY. March 16, 2015:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Erik Refvik (DOB 12/17/79) of 42 Barker Avenue, White Plains, New York was arraigned on a 16 count indictment charging him with:

  • four counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, class “B” Felonies,
  • 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,
  • one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
  • two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, class “A” Misdemeanors,
  • one count of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
  • one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
  • one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified VTL Misdemeanor,
  • various Vehicle and Traffic Law Infractions.

 

relating to the death of Reyda La Madrid and the serious injuries to Edgar Lopez.

 “This defendant, in a city that he both lived and worked, as alleged in the indictment, operated his car in such an intoxicated and impaired condition that he drove down a major thoroughfare, South Lexington Avenue, in the wrong direction for more than a third of a mile before crashing head-on into the victim’s vehicle. No less troubling, was the fact that before the collision, this defendant spent the previous 12 hours on a drinking odyssey, enabled throughout, by the fact that only one of the at least four bars he patronized refused to serve him,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

On November 3rd 2014 at approximately 4:30am, the defendant while operating his 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe at approximately 65 miles per hour, collided with a 2000 Honda Civic that was waiting at a traffic light. The force of the head-on collision, pushed the Honda nearly half a football field down South Lexington Avenue, killing the passenger and seriously injuring the driver.

Over a span of nearly 12 hours preceding the collision, the defendant was seen on video drinking at a minimum of four bars on Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains:

  • The Brazen Fox
  • Hudson Grille
  • Copper Face Jacks
  • Black Bear

At the time of the collision, experts put the defendant’s blood alcohol content (BAC) at .21, more than 2 1/2 times the legal limit. In addition, he had a cocktail of exacerbating substances in his system which consisted of cocaine, clonazepam, and bath salts.

The defendant was arrested at the WestchesterMedicalCenter that same day by the White Plains police.

Bail was increased to $50,000.

His next court appearance will be on March 26th, 2015.

He faces a maximum sentence of twenty five years in prison.

Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Lopez and Jonathan Strongin of the Superior Court Trial Division are prosecuting the case.

 

 

 

 

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