Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Hicksville man was indicted for aggravated vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an incident, and other charges for striking and killing a bicyclist on Old Country Road in Westbury while allegedly heavily intoxicated and impaired by cocaine in October 2024.
Wilfredo Blanco Molina, 41, was arraigned Monday before Judge Meryl Berkowitz on grand jury indictment charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (D felony); Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (an A misdemeanor); Aggravating Driving While Intoxicated Per Se (an unclassified misdemeanor); Driving While Intoxicated Per Se (an unclassified misdemeanor); Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs and Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor) and Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor).
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was continued at $10,000 cash, $50,000 bond, and $250,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on April 9, 2025. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10-2/3 to 32 years in prison.
“Robert McCarthy was riding his bicycle near the curb, with a reflective vest and lights to make motorists aware of his presence on the road, but this defendant, allegedly more the twice the legal limit for alcohol and impaired by cocaine, never saw him,” said DA Donnelly. “Robert was thrown from his bicycle into a telephone pole and died at the scene. Rather than stop and call for help, this defendant allegedly continued to drive away from the crash until a flat tire prevented him from going any further. We cannot continue to lose innocent pedestrians and bicyclists to reckless and selfish drunk drivers.”
DA Donnelly said that on October 27, 2024, at approximately 3:40 a.m., the defendant was driving a 2006 Chrysler Sebring eastbound on Old Country Road when he allegedly struck 69-year-old Robert McCarthy as he rode his bicycle near the intersection of State Street.
The victim was thrown from his bicycle into a telephone pole and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Molina allegedly fled the scene and continued to drive eastbound on Old Country Road for approximately a quarter mile before his car came to rest because of a flat tire.
Officers approached the disabled vehicle to provide assistance, and observed the flat passenger side front tire, as well as significant damage to the passenger side headlight and mirror and blood along the passenger-side fender.
The defendant allegedly had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .22 approximately two hours after the crash and his blood showed evidence of cocaine use.
The defendant was also allegedly found to have cocaine in his pocket during his arrest.
The investigation determined that the defendant had allegedly been drinking at a bar for several hours before the crash.
The defendant was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department on October 27, 2024.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Tara DePalo of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Michael Bushwack and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Christopher Graziano, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.