Cocaine-impaired driver crashes into stroller in Queens, killing infant
A 57-year-old pickup driver under the influence of cocaine and THC ran a stop sign in Queens, striking a nanny and killing the 1-year-old baby in the stroller.
Around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Elvin Rivera, 57, drove his white Chevrolet Silverado through a stop sign on 32nd Avenue in Murray Hill, Queens, colliding with a stroller carried by a nanny. The crash killed 1-year-old Justin Hu, who was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a nearby hospital, and left the nanny with an injured right arm. Authorities report that Rivera had traces of cocaine and THC in his bloodstream and did not pass a field sobriety test.
He also has an unresolved DWI case from an April incident in the Bronx. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called the death “completely avoidable” and vowed aggressive prosecution. Rivera was arraigned on multiple charges, including manslaughter and reckless driving, pleaded not guilty, and was remanded without bail; a conviction on the top charge could bring up to 15 years in prison.
Why it matters
The case highlights the deadly risk of drug-impaired driving and raises concerns about repeat offenders.
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