A late‑night crash on I‑87 that killed a Cornwall motorcyclist has now led to felony charges against a former NYPD officer. A state grand jury indicted Kevin Richmond on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in connection with the 2023 collision that left motorcyclist Nidia Nieves dead on the highway.
Prosecutors allege Richmond, 44, of Elmsford, was off duty and driving while intoxicated when his vehicle struck Nieves on the northbound side of the Thruway near Cornwall. Nieves was ejected from her motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. Richmond was arraigned in Orange County Court and released on a $40,000 bond, and he is due back in court on May 1.
Attorney General Charges
In a press release, the Attorney General's Office said a grand jury returned an indictment charging Richmond with Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and two misdemeanor DWI counts.
The indictment alleges Richmond had a blood‑alcohol concentration of at least 0.08% shortly after midnight on July 27, 2023, when he allegedly caused the collision that killed Nieves. According to the Attorney General's Office, the top count carries a potential prison sentence of two and one‑third to seven years if Richmond is convicted.
Earlier Proceedings
Richmond was first arrested and arraigned in Newburgh City Court in June 2025 and posted a $20,000 cash bond, according to prior reporting. That initial hearing was handled by Judge Paul Trachte before the Attorney General's Office took jurisdiction through its Office of Special Investigation.
The new indictment shifted the case into Orange County Court, where the matter is now pending before Judge Craig Brown. The change in venue reflects the move from an early local arraignment to a full felony prosecution overseen at the county level.
Arraignment This Week
At the April 1 arraignment, Richmond was returned on a $40,000 bond with a $20,000 cash alternative, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.
Prosecutors say the crash occurred in the northbound lanes of I‑87 between exits 16 and 17, where Nieves was thrown from her motorcycle and died at the scene. Court records show Richmond now faces the felony vehicular manslaughter charge along with the two misdemeanor DWI counts.
Legal Implications
The Attorney General's Office said the case is being handled under Executive Law Section 70‑b, which requires the Office of Special Investigation to review incidents where a police officer may have caused someone's death. State officials underscored that the criminal charges are accusations and that Richmond is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the case in court.
Next Steps
Richmond is scheduled to return to Orange County Court on May 1, 2026. If he is convicted on the top count of the indictment, he faces a possible sentence of two and one‑third to seven years in prison, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.
The indictment marks the latest development in a case that began with the July 27, 2023 crash and Richmond's initial 2025 arraignment, setting the stage for what is likely to be a closely watched proceeding in Orange County.
