Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Long Beach man was sentenced today to five to 12 years in prison for a March 2022 drunken motorcycle crash that killed a New York City public school teacher walking across the street in Rockville Centre.
Christopher Flores, 29, pleaded guilty on January 30, 2024, before Judge Caryn Fink to Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a C felony); Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Alcohol and Drugs as a Felony (an E felony); and Driving While Intoxicated (an E felony).
The defendant was sentenced today to five to 12 years in prison.
“This defendant should have known the consequences of driving while intoxicated, having been prosecuted in 2016 for a DWI in Island Park. But instead, Christopher Flores got drunk and high on marijuana and sped down Merrick Road, striking and killing Scott Brower less than two blocks away from his home,” said DA Donnelly. “Scott was a beloved teacher and basketball coach and an inspiration to his students at P.S. 20 in Flushing, Queens. He was doing the work to change young lives every day, while raising a 21-month-old daughter of his own. Scott was tragically taken from his family, his friends, and the Flushing community he served with pride by this careless and reckless defendant. Our thoughts remain with all those who loved Scott as Flores is sentenced for this heartbreaking and truly senseless crime.”
DA Donnelly said that on March 19, 2022, at approximately 11:53 p.m. victim Scott Brower was crossing Merrick Road at South Forest Avenue in a crosswalk when he was struck by Flores driving a 2020 BMW motorcycle eastbound on Merrick Road at a high rate of speed while intoxicated and high.
Flores was thrown from the motorcycle, which crashed into another vehicle before finally coming to rest.
Brower was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 1:40 a.m.
The defendant also suffered significant physical injuries and was transported to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside for treatment.
Blood taken from the defendant at the hospital showed a BAC of .17% and evidence of cannabis use.
He was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department and the Rockville Centre Police Department on March 20, 2022.
Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Dellinger and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Russell of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau are prosecuting the case 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 Dennis Lemke, Esq.