What Happened
A Queens man has been indicted on eight charges — including aggravated vehicular homicide — after prosecutors say he drove drunk during a snowstorm on the Southern State Parkway, lost control at an exit, and crashed into a tree, killing one passenger and severely injuring two others. According to News 12 Long Island, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office announced the indictment of Deodat Ramotar, 35, in connection with the 2025 crash.
Prosecutors say Ramotar had spent the night drinking at a family party before getting behind the wheel during a snowstorm with a car full of passengers. As he approached an exit on the Southern State Parkway, he was traveling at a high rate of speed. His vehicle spun out into the snow and struck a nearby tree. The force of the crash was severe enough to eject all three people who were seated in the backseat.
One of those passengers was killed instantly. The other two suffered multiple severe injuries and internal wounds, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office as reported by News 12 Long Island.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly addressed the tragedy directly in a press release. “What started as a fun gathering with loved ones ended in tragedy because of this defendant’s alleged actions,” Donnelly said. “Deodat Ramotar allegedly spent the night drinking at a family party, got behind the wheel during a snowstorm with a car full of passengers, and crashed into a tree… This crash was entirely preventable and my office intends to hold the defendant fully accountable for the devastation he caused.”
Ramotar pleaded not guilty and was remanded following his arraignment. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 2. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Location & Road Context
The crash took place on the Southern State Parkway in Nassau County — one of Long Island’s most heavily traveled limited-access roadways, stretching from Valley Stream east toward Hecksdale. The specific exit where Ramotar’s vehicle spun out has not been identified in the current record. The Southern State Parkway is among the most incident-prone corridors tracked by Long Island Traffic, with 806 recorded incidents in our database and multiple recent crashes, a vehicle fire, and roadwork episodes logged in July 2026 alone. Winter conditions — reduced visibility, ice, and compacted snow on exit ramps — significantly amplify crash risk at highway speeds, particularly near exit curves where traction demands spike.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office secured a grand jury indictment against Ramotar on the following charges: aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault, assault, reckless driving, and driving while intoxicated. As News 12 Long Island reported, Ramotar entered a not guilty plea and was remanded — meaning he is being held without bail. His next court date is set for September 2. If convicted on the top count, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
What This DWI Charge Means
New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law §1192 establishes three tiers of impaired driving. A DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) charge applies when a driver’s ability is impaired by alcohol, even below the legal limit. A standard DWI charge requires a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher. Aggravated DWI — the most serious tier — applies when a driver’s BAC reaches 0.18% or above, or when a child under 16 is a passenger. Ramotar faces a DWI charge as part of a broader indictment that also includes the felony-level aggravated vehicular homicide count, which under New York law applies when a drunk driver causes a death.
First-offense DWI in New York carries fines between $500 and $1,000, a minimum six-month license revocation, a mandatory $395 driver responsibility assessment per year for three years, and the possibility of up to one year in jail. A conviction also requires installation of an ignition interlock device. When DWI is paired with a fatality and serious injuries — as in Ramotar’s case — the charges escalate to felony-level counts with multi-year prison exposure. Drivers who refuse a chemical test under New York’s implied consent law face an automatic one-year license revocation and a $500 civil penalty, independent of any criminal conviction.
Case Status & Updates
It is important to note that an indictment is an accusation, not a conviction. Deodat Ramotar is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The case is proceeding through Nassau County criminal court, with the next scheduled appearance on September 2. Long Island Traffic monitors DWI cases through the Long Island court system and will update this report with arraignment outcomes, any changes in plea, pretrial developments, and sentencing as they become part of the public record. Readers with information relevant to this case should contact the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office directly.
Broader Impact
The indictment underscores the particular danger of impaired driving during winter storm conditions on Long Island’s parkways. Drunk driving fatalities on the Southern State Parkway and surrounding Nassau County roads have historically spiked when alcohol is combined with adverse weather — a combination that DA Donnelly described as entirely preventable. For more on your rights following a serious crash, see Long Island Traffic’s Know Your Rights guide.