Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Hempstead man was arraigned on grand jury indictment charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and other related charges for an October 2022 crash in which a 26-year-old man was killed, and three other occupants of the defendant’s Dodge Charger – including his teenage son – were injured.
Donnell Hill, 51, was arraigned today before Judge Terence Murphy on charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony), Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony), two counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony), Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a D felony), Vehicular Assault in the First Degree (a D felony) Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree (an E felony), Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child (an E felony), Assault in the Third Degree (an A misdemeanor), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (an A misdemeanor), Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor), two counts of Driving While Intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor), and Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor).
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $250,000 bond, $125,000 cash, or $1 million partially secured at 10%. Hill is due back in court on September 20, 2023, and if convicted of the top charge, faces a potential maximum of 8-1/3 years to 25 years in prison.
“Donnell Hill – a professional bus driver – was allegedly both drunk and speeding when he crashed his muscle car into a tree and killed one of his passengers and injured two others – including his 13-year-old son,” DA Donnelly said. “The defendant’s actions that evening showed a complete disregard for everyone on the roadway. A 26-year-old man died due to the allegedly reckless actions of this defendant and my office will vigorously prosecute this case.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, at approximately 10:36 p.m. on October 29, 2022, the defendant was driving his blue 2018 Dodge Charger eastbound on Jerusalem Avenue in Hempstead with four passengers.
Hill was driving toward Ingraham Boulevard at an allegedly high rate of speed and in an intoxicated state when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the westbound lanes of travel, and crashed into a tree.
Based on the investigation, the defendant allegedly drove his car in a “doughnut” pattern at least twice on a public roadway just before the crash.
Rear passenger Xavier Parris, 26, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered extensive injuries. He was pronounced dead at NYU Langone Hospital Long Island at 2:11 a.m.
Two of the other three occupants of the vehicle, including Hill’s then 13-year-old son, were treated for various injuries at Nassau University Medical Center.
Hill was arrested at the scene by members of the Hempstead and Nassau County Police Departments.
At the time of the crash the defendant was a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Dellinger and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Russell of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau are prosecuting the case. The defendant is represented by Joseph Indusi, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
