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Long Island resident Christopher Savini was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after he fled from yesterday morning's hit and run on the Grand Central Parkway that killed a man and injured a woman. Christian Melendez had crashed, while possibly speeding, into a guardrail (his Honda was not initially hit, as previously reported). The Daily News reports that Melendez's car was "perpendicular to the road and blocking two westbound lanes," and he and passenger Andrea Machiqua got out of the car to inspect the damage. Sources say the 28 year old Melendez, who had a previous DWI and a suspended license, had been drinking earlier and that alcohol was found in the car.
Savini, driving a Chevy Impala, crashed into the Honda, which then crushed Melendez and Machiqua. Melendez died at Mary Immaculate Hospital while 16 year old Machiqua's lower left leg was amputated. Savini's license plate had fallen off at the scene, but he still drove off. When he called his father from a friend's house, his father convinced him to surrender and brought him to the crime scene.
Savini, who has had prior arrests for drug possession and dealing, faces four years in prison if convicted. Melendez's fater said, "You see an accident, stop and help... He should have stayed there and helped him, or called the ambulance."
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I've got a great idea for an advertising campaign. Chevrolet should run pictures of the totally destroyed Honda juxtaposed with the relatively intact and still-driveable Impala. Sales of Impalas should skyrocket.
mr. melendez may be right that savini, or anyone, SHOULD HAVE stayed and helped....but i really don't get the feeling that the younger melendez would have made the effort himself
Stay, and get charged with DWI, Vehicular Manslaughter, speeding, and whatever else the DA can think of... and probably go to jail for 2-6.
Or leave, and get fined for leaving the scene of an accident. Because he left, no one can prove he was drunk while driving, just that he was driving with a suspended license. He'll get his license revoked, pay a hefty fine, and probably not go to jail.
Unfortunately, the system makes it better for him to keep his yap shut and not call for help.
tom, it says that melendez, THE ONE WHO GOT HIT AND DIED, was possibly dwi. still, point well taken
THis is My cousin and I will miss him dearly. R.I.P Christian
fishtale, I did read that wrong. But with previous convictions for drug dealing and such, Savini isn't a pillar of the community either... so most of what I said still applies.
The link to the ABC story is broken.
Savini was not under the influence of anything. Please know that this was a horrible tragedy and we are all sad. There was alcohol found in the Civic that was driven by Melendez. We do not know the alcohol level that was found in his blood. It was said that he was dwi ( the 3 had been out drinking in LI ) and also had a suspended license for dui. Did anyone think that Savini may have been in shock of what had happened? He obviously hit his windshield, maybe he was incoherent and freaking out! He did come back to the police. This is devastating for everyone involved and their families. In any case - it has also been said that the Civic had been going 90 mph. Nobody has all of the facts. We do know that Savini was straight and the other car may have been intoxicated. We all have skeletons in our closets and should not judge. At least we shouldn't if we don't have all of the facts, or have our facts straight.