NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A New York City bar owner was arraigned Wednesday on manslaughter and other charges in connection with a fatal hit and run crash that killed a Staten Island man.
Ramsaran Mahabeersingh, 57, of Cypress Hills, was charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident, driving while intoxicated, tampering with evidence and related charges in connection with the 2019 crash.
According to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, the incident happened around 3 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2019, at the intersection of North Conduit Boulevard and Crescent Street in Cypress Hills.
Prosecutors said Mahabeersingh was observed leaving the bar he owns, Cross Bay Sports Bar in Ozone Park, and entering a 2009 Nissan Murano while allegedly drunk.
He drove for about two miles before he allegedly struck the victim, 47-year-old Antonio Gonzalez, as he attempted to cross the street at the intersection, Gonzalez said.
The victim, a married father of three who worked as a maintenance worker in Manhattan, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mahabeersingh is accused of continuing to drive after the crash, leaving the victim on the street.
The DA said videos captured Mahabeersingh leaving the crash, driving around 45 mph in a 30-mph zone. Footage also captured him striking another vehicle, in which a piece of his own car fell off and was later recovered by authorities.
Two days later, Mahabeersingh was observed throwing car paint and boxes of car parts into the garbage, the DA said.
An investigation revealed that he hired a repairman to replace the Murano's windshield in his driveway, and that the windshield had damage consistent with striking a person and contained traces of the victim's DNA.
The vehicle had also allegedly undergone recent body work, according to the evidence.
"An extensive and lengthy investigation into this tragic crash revealed the extent of this defendant's illegal actions," Gonzalez said. "He allegedly drove drunk, fatally struck a man crossing a Brooklyn road, drove away without stopping or offering help and then disposed of evidence and covered up damage to his car. We will now seek to hold him accountable for this dangerous and criminal conduct."
Mahabeersingh faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count. Bail was set at $500,000 cash or $1,000,000 bond and he was ordered to return to court on Nov. 18.
