Driver indicted for drunkenly slamming into teen pedestrian, cyclist in wild Brooklyn crash
The drunken driver who put a 19-year-old pedestrian in a coma and injured a bicyclist in a Brooklyn crash late last year has been indicted, prosecutors said Monday.
Crystal DeJesus, 20, was behind the wheel of a BMW on Nov. 5 when she tore through the intersection of Halsey St. and Tompkins Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant at around 11:50 p.m., officials said.
Brandon Wheeler, the 32-year-old cyclist injured in the crash, said he “couldn’t believe” the speed DeJesus was traveling at when she slammed first into the pedestrian, and then him.
“I thought I was about to die,” Wheeler told the Daily News at the time.
He and the teen were both hospitalized, with the younger victim put in a medically induced coma.
Witnesses to the horrific crash held DeJesus at the scene until the arrival of police, who observed the driver had watery eyes and a strong smell of alcohol on her breath, prosecutors said.
DeJesus took a Breathalyzer test at the scene, which came back with a blood-alcohol level of .12 — well over the legal limit of .08, they added.
The driver was charged with vehicular assault, excessive speed, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.
“Her recklessness, as well as her complete disregard for the safety of our roadways, resulted in injuries to two people, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. “My office is committed to keeping Brooklyn streets safe and we will now seek to hold this defendant accountable.”
DeJesus, of Manhattan, pleaded not guilty at the Monday hearing in Brooklyn. She’s due back to face the charges on April 24, records show.
