A Jamaica resident is facing serious charges after prosecutors say he struck and killed a scooter rider in Astoria in early January. Prosecutors identified the defendant as 30-year-old Ryan Rampersaud and the victim as 54-year-old Blanca Arias-Miranda. The case is due back in Queens Supreme Court on March 26, as the district attorney moves forward with a multi-count indictment.
Indictment and charges
According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, Rampersaud was arraigned on a four-count indictment charging vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide and two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. In a statement, DA Melinda Katz said, "As alleged, the defendant was driving while intoxicated, barreled into a scooter operated by Blanca Arias-Miranda and killed the 54-year-old mother of four."
What happened that night
As reported by Shore News Network, the crash happened around 1:40 a.m. on Jan. 4 at Crescent Street and 30th Drive. Prosecutors say a 2009 Honda Civic driven by Rampersaud attempted a left turn and struck Arias-Miranda as she rode a standing scooter in the designated bike lane. Witnesses called 911 after she was thrown to the pavement, and she died two days later from severe brain trauma after being hospitalized.
Testing and the scene
Per the Queens District Attorney's Office, Rampersaud stayed at the scene and showed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and unsteady balance. He refused a breathalyzer at the 112th Precinct, and a court-ordered blood draw later showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12 percent, prosecutors say.
Remembering Blanca Arias-Miranda
Friends and family described Arias-Miranda as a devoted mother and grandmother, and a fundraiser to help with funeral and household expenses had raised tens of thousands of dollars, according to PEOPLE. The collision has also renewed local calls for safer streets for scooter riders and others who rely on bike lanes.
Next steps in court
Rampersaud was ordered to return to Queens Supreme Court on March 26. If he is convicted of the top count, he faces up to seven years in prison, as reported by Shore News Network. The indictment is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
