Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Baldwin woman was sentenced today to up to 18 years in prison for a May 2022 high-speed crash that killed a 66-year-old man.
Jinaraya Khan, 33, pleaded guilty on December 18, 2023, to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony), Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony), and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor).
She was sentenced today before Judge Robert Bogle to six to 18 years in prison. The NCDA recommended a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison.
“Scott Freeman was a hard-working and kind man who had dreams of retiring to the south in a year’s time,” said DA Donnelly. “Those dreams came to a tragic end when just down the street from his home in Baldwin, Jinaraya Khan struck his vehicle at 96 miles an hour and killed him as he drove to work. The defendant was so intoxicated that she remained more than three times the legal limit for alcohol 40 minutes after the crash. Drunk driving destroys lives. It cost Scott Freeman his life and the defendant her freedom. Our thoughts remain with Scott’s family and friends as they continue to mourn his loss.”
DA Donnelly said that on May 3, 2022, at approximately 5:16 a.m., victim Scott Freeman attempted to make a left turn in his 2011 Toyota Corolla onto Grand Avenue near his home. The 66-year-old Baldwin resident was then struck by a 2020 BMW X3 driven by Khan. The defendant was highly intoxicated and speeding northbound on Grand Avenue.
Freeman was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The defendant remained at the scene and was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department. She was then transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the collision.
An analysis of the defendant’s vehicle’s crash data recorder revealed that Khan was traveling at 96 miles per hour at the time of collision. The speed limit on Grand Avenue at that location is 35 miles per hour.
A search warrant for the defendant’s blood taken at the hospital revealed that her blood alcohol content was 0.25%, more than three times the legal limit, 42 minutes after the crash.
The defendant claimed that she had consumed two mimosas and was late to work at John F. Kennedy Airport.
Freeman worked at a local printing company and had plans to retire in the next year.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Dellinger of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by Lance Lazzaro, Esq.