DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES SENTENCING OF ERIC REFVIK THE WP FIREFIGHTER WHO PLEAD GUILTY IN WRONG WAY COLLISION, KILLING WOMAN AND NOVEMBER, 2014

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. FROM THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE. SEPTEMBER 25, 2015:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Erik Refvik (DOB 12/17/79) of 42 Barker Avenue, White Plains, New York was sentenced Friday to an indeterminate term of five to fifteen years in prison on his guilty plea to the entire 16 count indictment that charged 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 physical injuries to Edgar Lopez.

“Today, as a result of his actions last November, and after pleading guilty to the most serious DWI charge in New York State, this defendant will now face substantial time in state prison. While that won’t replace the loss of a wife and mother, and cannot repair the damage done to the victim’s family, hopefully it will give the family some measure of closure,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

On Sunday morning,  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 number of bars on Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains:

In a news release announcing the indictment of Refvik, the District Attorney’s Office identified four of those bars, and we quote from that release as follows:

“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.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lopez of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.

 

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