In a grim turn of events, a Nassau County driver has been indicted on a murder charge after allegedly dragging a pedestrian under his vehicle while fleeing the scene of a collision. The driver, Warren Rollins, 49, is accused of running over 63-year-old Gary Charlotin, who had been hit by another vehicle just moments before. The indictment includes charges such as murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the second degree, and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, as detailed by the Queens District Attorney's Office.
The incident, which led to the tragic fatality, took place on December 10, 2023, along Hempstead Avenue in Queens Village; Charlotin was initially struck while crossing the street and subsequently run over by Rollins’ Chevrolet Traverse, when the victim was pinned below the vehicle according to the Queens District Attorney's Office announcement. Witnesses at the scene allegedly urged Rollins to not move his car after the initial impact, however, he reportedly drove away at high speed, dragging the body for several blocks and Rollins is said to have been fully aware of the victim under his car, having stopped for over two minutes before accelerating away.
Warren Rollins was arraigned on the aforementioned charges and is set to return to court on July 17. Conviction of the top count could lead to a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The other driver involved, Osman Zavala-Varela, 38, is also facing charges in a separate indictment for leaving the scene and tampering with evidence and is due back in court July 10.
With evidence gathered from surveillance footage and DNA testing from the damaged vehicle, the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad and the Queens District Attorney’s office were able to launch a full investigation into the distressing event, after which a grand jury voted to indict Rollins an arrest warrant was issued and he surrendered to law enforcement on June 3. Authorities have been vigilant in their pursuit of justice for the reprehensible outcome that befell Charlotin, who was found still alive after being dragged but later pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement obtained by the Queens District Attorney's Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe, Unit Chief of the District Attorney’s Vehicular Homicide Unit, and Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, alongside Assistant District Attorney Vivian Gonzalez, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, and Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.
