Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Nicolas Apostolides, 18, of West Babylon, was indicted for Manslaughter in the Second Degree and other related charges, after allegedly speeding while occupied on his cell phone before crashing into another vehicle, killing 63-year-old David Martinez, of West Babylon, in April 2023.
“Motorists must always remain attentive to the roadways while driving. A split second of distraction can quickly turn into a deadly chain of events,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant’s alleged decision to drive fast, while operating a cell phone has caused the tragic death of Mr. Martinez, which could have been avoided.”
According to the investigation, on April 16, 2023, at approximately 5:35 a.m., Apostolides was driving northbound on Straight Path in West Babylon while allegedly using his cell phone, when he drove through a red light and crashed into Martinez’s vehicle. The victim was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital where he died from the injuries he sustained in the crash.
Officers recovered video surveillance of the crash, which allegedly showed Apostolides driving at a high rate of speed through a traffic light that had been red for several seconds prior to the impact.
On December 1, 2023, Apostolides was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz, for the charges of one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony; one count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor.
Justice Horowitz ordered the defendant be placed on supervised release and suspended his license suspended during the pendency of the case. Apostolides is due back in court on January 11, 2024, and he is being represented by Danielle Coysh, Esq. and Brendan Ahern, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Scahill of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Salvatore Tornicchio of the Suffolk County Police Department’s First Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.
