Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that David Garcia, 28, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the July 2019 hit and run death of a Dunkin’ Donuts employee.

District Attorney Katz said, “The destination for this defendant – who selfishly chose to disobey the rules of the road with fatal, tragic consequences – is now prison. He was driving at speeds of more than 90 mph in a 30 mph zone, drove through a red light, struck the victim and then fled the scene. The victim – a husband and father of three – was simply crossing Woodhaven Boulevard on his way to work.”

Garcia, of 97^th Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second degree yesterday before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Karen Gopee. Justice Gopee set the defendant’s sentencing date for August 3, 2021, at which time he faces 3 1/3 to 10 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges, the defendant was driving a 2019 black BMW southbound on Woodhaven Boulevard in Woodhaven, Queens just before 5 a.m. on July 25, 2019. The defendant hit speeds as high as 92 mph and drove through the intersection at 91^st Avenue as the light turned red.

According to Court records, Mr. Sivananaintha Perumal, 56, was walking across the boulevard on his way to his morning shift at Dunkin’ Donuts just as the defendant was approaching the intersection. The impact killed Mr. Perumal. Garcia drove away from the scene and the defendant was apprehended two weeks later.

Assistant District Attorney Laura Dorfman prosecuted the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney John W. Kosinski, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Pishoy Yacoub, Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Supreme Court Trials Division.