Woman Indicted for Seriously Injuring Selden Triathlete after Driving into Race; Was Driving with Suspended License, DA Says
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Jakeline Figueroa, 29, of Westbury, was indicted for Assault in the Second Degree and other related charges, after allegedly speeding in the parking lot of Smith Point Park where a triathlon race was taking place, and striking 44-year-old racer Sal Gomez, as he was competing in August 2023.
“This assault could have been avoided,” said District Attorney Tierney. “There was no need for this defendant to allegedly drive while speeding inside of a parking lot even if there was not a race taking place. Motorists must always remain cautious and prudent while driving to avoid endangering the lives of pedestrians.”
According to the investigation, on August 6, 2023, at approximately 7:15 a.m., Figueroa was driving a 2023 Nissan Rogue when she allegedly struck Gomez while driving at high rate of speed, while he was competing in a triathlon event in the parking lot of Smith Point Beach. Spectators at the event allegedly observed Figueroa driving eastbound through a marked travel lane in the parking lot at a fast rate. The defendant allegedly caused the collision when she drove through a stop bar on the pavement and into the portion of the parking lot designated for the participants of the race.
Upon impact, Gomez was thrown from the bike, landing on the windshield of Figueroa’s vehicle, and then struck the pavement. Gomez was transported by aviation to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was admitted with a traumatic brain injury and a cervical spine fracture. At the time of the crash, the defendant was operating the vehicle with a suspended license and without a previously court-ordered ignition interlock device.
On December 20, 2023, Figueroa was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro, for the following charges:
- Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D felony;
- Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
- Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor;
- Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, an unclassified misdemeanor;
- Circumvention of an Interlock Device, an unclassified misdemeanor; and
- Speeding, a traffic infraction.
Justice Ambro placed Figueroa on supervised release and suspended her license. Figueroa is due back in court on January 30, 2024, and she is being represented by Michael Brown, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ray Varuolo of the Vehicular Crime Bureau with investigative assistance from Suffolk County Police Department Detective Neil Nunberg of the Seventh Squad.
The victim’s family has turned to crowdfunding website GoFundMe to help raise funds for his treatment. You can donate to the Sal Gomez GoFundMe campaign - which currently has $95,025 raised of its $100,000 goal- by clicking here
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.