A drunk driver reportedly killed a 16-year-old girl after he pursued her with lewd propositions and she rejected him. New York prosecutors claim the teen was deliberately ploughed into by the driver, who got into a heated confrontation with her stepfather over his sexual remarks.
The harassment occurred when victim Jhoanny Alvarez and her family left a restaurant in Elmhurst, Queens, where the accused, Edwin Cruz-Gomez, trailed the teen on Saturday morning. Alvarez had dined at the Prima Donna Restaurant with her boyfriend, mother, and stepfather.
Just outside the restaurant, they encountered Cruz-Gomez, who was in the company of several other men, when he started to direct sexually explicit comments toward Alvarez and her mother. He told them he wanted to have sex and asked if they would have sex with him for money, per a report from the New York Post.
The remarks sparked a confrontation with Alvarez’s stepfather that escalated into a physical altercation before bystanders stepped in to break it up. Authorities say Cruz-Gomez then walked to his double-parked Chevy Suburban and, instead of leaving, he reportedly sped off, steering against traffic and mounting the sidewalk.
Prosecutors say he “intentionally manoeuvred” the vehicle toward Alvarez and her family. Alvarez was pinned against a pole and killed instantly. Her mother and stepfather were also struck and sustained injuries.
Assistant District Attorney Abigail Neumiller told the court that Alvarez “was hit so hard that she was impaled.” Cruz-Gomez, who police say was extremely intoxicated, abandoned his vehicle after reversing and colliding with a parked van. He was later taken into custody, where he reportedly admitted to being drunk, and police confirmed that even four hours after the incident, his blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.
During questioning, Cruz-Gomez appeared to downplay his actions, portraying the deadly collision as more of an accident than a deliberate attack. He repeatedly emphasised his own frustrations, telling police that he had been confronted and beaten by a teen’s boyfriend and another individual outside the restaurant. He said that he was upset when he got into his vehicle and admitted to driving without a license. He told police he had hit a pole and also asked, “Did I kill her?”
Cruz-Gomez appeared in court wearing shorts and a T-shirt, scowling as the charges were read. He now faces second-degree murder, attempted murder, vehicular manslaughter, and multiple DUI-related charges.
Court records show that Cruz-Gomez had prior incidents involving driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license earlier this year. Judge Lana Schlesinger ordered him held without bail and suspended his conditional license.