Brooklyn driver pleads guilty to causing a collision that killed a health care worker while evading police.
A Brooklyn man has entered a guilty plea in connection with a fatal car crash that resulted in the death of a healthcare professional, as announced by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. The incident occurred on May 26, 2024, when 33-year-old Juan Lopez from Cypress Hills was involved in a high-speed collision while attempting to evade law enforcement.
Lopez now faces a prison sentence ranging from four to twelve years after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including manslaughter, unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of an accident without reporting. The crash took place around 5:25 a.m. in the intersection of Gates and Wilson Avenues in Bushwick, where Lopez allegedly sped past a red light in his 2018 Mercedes-Benz sedan, reaching speeds of approximately 75 miles per hour.
Following his disregard for a police attempt to pull him over, Lopez collided head-on with a 2005 Honda Pilot, which had the green light and was traveling south on Central Avenue. Tragically, Micah Dukes, a 29-year-old passenger in the Honda, was ejected during the collision and sustained severe injuries, including skull and facial fractures, brain bleeding, and internal organ damage. After being transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where she was initially in critical condition, Dukes was later transferred to NYU Langone Medical Center. She succumbed to her injuries on June 8, 2024.
The two other passengers in the Honda, a 34-year-old woman driving the vehicle and a 31-year-old woman in the front seat, escaped unharmed. Dukes, originally from Albany and a recent graduate of Hudson Valley Community College with a degree in community health, was an aspiring advocate for marginalized communities, as highlighted in a promotional video for her college.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Lopez attempted to flee the scene on foot after losing control of his vehicle, but he was quickly apprehended by officers. During the arrest, he admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to driving. Notably, records indicate that the Mercedes he drove had accumulated nine traffic violations in the month leading up to the crash.
Lopez’s history includes a previous arrest in October 2023 for reckless endangerment and driving without a license plate after a police chase involving a motorcycle. He faced legal consequences for fleeing from officers in that incident, which involved high speeds and dangerous maneuvers through a crowded area.
Sentencing for Lopez is scheduled for September, where he will face accountability for his actions that led to the tragic death of Dukes, impacting her family and community profoundly. This incident underscores serious concerns regarding reckless driving and the consequences of high-speed pursuits in urban settings, raising questions about public safety and responsibility on the road.
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