NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man was indicted on charges of manslaughter, drunk driving and other crimes in a fatal crash in February that killed his long-time girlfriend in Queens, authorities said.
Ray Perez, 27, who is also known as Rey Perez, was arraigned on a 13-count indictment on charges of manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, attempted assault, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, leaving scene of an incident without reporting, menacing, operating a motor vehicle while under influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by a combined use of drugs or of alcohol and drugs, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and operating or driving a motor vehicle without a license, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
According to the charges, from approximately 9:15 p.m. Feb. 21 to 1:16 a.m. Feb. 22, Perez and Enriquez were at NYC Gentleman’s Club at 26-50 Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Woodside where Perez consumed multiple mixed drinks containing alcohol.
Perez was escorted out of the premises around 1:16 a.m. and then became engaged in a dispute with the bar staff. He swung a shovel at the staff before leaving with Enriquez in a red Nissan Altima, officials said.
Perez returned to the club at approximately 3:56 a.m. and started another altercation. Video surveillance showed Perez driving the wrong way on a one-way street and chasing after a group of men which appeared to include the bouncers who removed him earlier.
Perez was then observed driving his Nissan Altima on 28th Avenue in Astoria by a police officer who noticed he had a bent license plate. Perez sped off when police tried to pull him over.
He then went through three stop signs at a high rate of speed in a residential area. His car was struck on the driver’s side by another vehicle, causing him to lose control and hit two parked cars.
Perez continued driving and turned down 47th Street to flee the scene without reporting the incident.
At approximately 4:24 a.m., officers responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 56th Drive and 61st Street in Maspeth and found a red Nissan Altima with heavy damage.
Police said Perez had knocked on the door of a resident at the location, which was about four miles from the Astoria intersection, to ask for help.
Officers observed Enriquez, whom Perez referred to as his wife, unconscious with blood on her face and blood on the passenger seat. Enriquez was immediately transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Perez was also observed by officers to have slurred speech, watery eyes, a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his breath and was swaying on his feet. He was taken to a hospital where blood was drawn and subsequently recovered pursuant to a court ordered warrant.
Toxicology testing revealed that Perez’s blood alcohol content was 0.16 percent, which is above the legal threshold of .08 percent, and that he also had Alprazolam and THC in his system.
Perez admitted that he was driving the car and told police he drank two beers.
A check of motor vehicle records indicated that Perez’s driver’s license was suspended.
He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted and is set to return to court on June 20.
"A mother’s life was taken due to the alleged reckless actions of the defendant who is accused of getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking and then failing to immediately get help after his passenger was seriously injured," D.A. Katz said. "There is no excuse for ignoring the rules of the road. Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts everyone at risk including, in this case, the defendant’s own girlfriend who leaves a young child behind."
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