Suffolk police said they arrested the driver who fled the scene of a crash on Monday night that killed 22-year-old East Patchogue resident Christopher Hlavaty.
On Monday June 10 at about 10:45 pm, Hlavaty was on his 2008 Suzuki motorcycle eastbound on Main Street in Patchogue. He was struck by a vehicle that turned left in front of him onto Rider Avenue.
The vehicle, described as an older, dark colored sedan, fled southbound on Rider Avenue.
Hlavaty was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to ABC News, Hlavaty was a volunteer firefighter at Hagerman Fire Department and had just been named “Rookie of the Year.”
Following an investigation by Major Case Unit detectives, Maria Guallpa-Bonilla was arrested for striking Hlavaty while driving a 2001 Mercury Cougar at the intersection of Rider Avenue and Main Street. Guallpa-Bonilla, 36, of Bellport, was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Incident Involving a Fatality. She will be held overnight at the Fourth Precinct. She is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on June 14th.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Correction: An earlier story had the vehicle placement wrong at the time of the accident and has been corrected.
