A Cypress Hills man has been sentenced nearly five years after a deadly hit-and-run on Atlantic Avenue that killed a bicyclist. Julio Sandoval, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and will serve three to six years in prison for the crash that killed 56-year-old Jose Ramos at Atlantic Avenue and Essex Street in October 2021.
According to court records, Sandoval pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree manslaughter and received a prison term of three to six years, with the docket listing the sentence as beginning March 10, 2026. The public case file also lists the original slate of charges prosecutors brought, including criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Prosecutors and reporting state that on Oct. 15, 2021, Sandoval ran a red light and was driving about 47 miles per hour, nearly twice the posted limit, when his vehicle hit Ramos as he crossed in a marked crosswalk, according to Brooklyn Paper. Ramos was taken to Interfaith Medical Center and later pronounced dead from severe blunt force trauma, and Sandoval did not stop at the scene, the reporting says.
Dangerous intersection and traffic safety
The crash took place at Atlantic Avenue and Essex Street, an intersection that has seen more than its share of trouble. Data from NYC Crash Mapper shows six crashes there since March 2021 and at least 11 people injured over that period. Advocates and local lawmakers have argued that the city's "Great Street" redesign work on Atlantic Avenue has not gone far enough to curb speeding or protect people moving through the corridor, a criticism detailed by Streetsblog.
Legal details
Court documents show Sandoval was initially hit with a range of charges, from criminally negligent homicide to reckless driving and speeding, before he entered a plea to one count of second-degree manslaughter as part of a deal, according to court records. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, in a statement reported by Brooklyn Paper, said Sandoval had shown "a callous disregard for public safety" by speeding and running the red light.
Ramos’s wife, Martha, who was walking a few steps behind him when the crash occurred, told reporters she had been accompanying him because he feared walking alone, as reported by Gothamist. Local traffic safety advocates said the sentence provides a measure of accountability while also fueling renewed calls for stronger traffic-calming measures on Atlantic Avenue.
The Kings County sentence marks the start of a term that will be served under state supervision, and court listings show additional fees and surcharges attached to the plea. For family members and neighbors, the outcome is described as small consolation for a loss they say they still feel every day.
