Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Tyrone Absolam, 42, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and other charges. The defendant is accused of being under the influence of alcohol when he slammed into another vehicle, killing a mother and her daughter. The deadly collision also injured the passengers in the defendant’s vehicle.

District Attorney Katz said, “As alleged, a family now mourns the loss of a mother and her 10 year-old daughter because of the defendant’s selfish decision to ignore the rules of the road. Drunk driving is never acceptable. The defendant now faces very serious charges for his alleged actions.”

Absolam, of 133^rd Avenue, Queens, was arraigned this morning before Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone Jr. on a 16-count indictment. The defendant is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter in the first and second degree, manslaughter in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide, assault in the second and third degree, aggravated driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless driving. Justice Vallone continued remand for the defendant and set his return date for September 7, 2021. Absalom faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

According to the indictment, at approximately 8:45 p.m. the defendant was exceeding the speed limit as he drove a 2018 gray Nissan Altima westbound on Rockaway Boulevard. Diana Granobles, 31, was making a left turn at the intersection of Rockaway and Guy R. Brewer boulevards when Absolam allegedly smashed into the victim’s Chevy Cruze. The woman’s 10-year-old daughter Isabella Granobles was in the car with her.

Both the mother and child were rushed to an area hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The three passengers riding with the defendant were also injured in the crash. They were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Continuing, DA Katz said, the defendant’s blood alcohol level was allegedly .15 – above the legal limit of .08. The posted speed limit on Rockaway and Guy R. Brewer boulevards is 35 mph. It is alleged that the defendant was traveling at 94 mph two seconds before crashing into the victim’s car.

Assistant District Attorneys Dylan Nesturrick and Rosemary Chao, of the DA’s Felony Trials II Bureau, are prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Mark Osnowitz, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Felony Trials Pishoy Yacoub.