A man accused of killing a 74-year-old DoorDash delivery driver in Ridgewood in August 2022 has been extradited from Germany to Queens to face criminal charges. Police identified him as 30-year-old Florin Stoian. He was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Wednesday and ordered held without bail pending further proceedings.
Investigators say the deadly crash happened on Aug. 14, 2022, when a black BMW hit Be Tran as he crossed Myrtle Avenue at Hancock Street. Tran was pronounced dead at the scene. The car involved was later found set on fire, and officials say the blaze spread to nearby vehicles and homes. According to police, the BMW had been rented using a false name, and an NYPD lieutenant did not mince words about the driver, saying, “That defendant obviously had no thoughts of helping that victim...he ran like a coward,” as reported by CBS News New York.
How investigators tracked him overseas
Police say detectives followed a trail that included stolen credit cards and fake identities, starting in Michigan and continuing through Canada and parts of Europe. That work eventually led them to Germany, where Stoian had already been arrested on theft charges under an alias. Officials say he used multiple names as he moved between countries and was held in Germany before being extradited back to New York, according to ABC7 New York.
Arraignment and charges
Prosecutors say Stoian faces a long list of counts, including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, arson, leaving the scene, tampering with evidence and reckless driving. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. Queens officials credited international cooperation for bringing him back to the borough to stand trial, according to reporting by amNY.
Community reaction
Tran’s death quickly sparked public outcry. In August 2022, neighbors and local elected officials held vigils and a rally in Ridgewood, calling for safer crossings and a formal review of dangerous intersections in the area. Residents created a memorial near the crash site and pushed the city to install traffic-calming measures, as covered by QNS.
Legal implications
The most serious charges against Stoian are felonies under New York law. Second-degree manslaughter is classified as a Class C felony in the state penal code. The case will proceed through the Queens County courts, and any sentence would be determined only if there is a conviction. For statutory details, see New York Penal Law §125.15.
