Former FDNY firefighter Michael Peña has abandoned his not-guilty stance and admitted in Queens Criminal Court that he caused a pre-dawn 2025 crash that killed 23-year-old Justin Diaz at a busy East Elmhurst intersection.
Peña entered the guilty plea on Wednesday in the case stemming from the February 26, 2025 collision at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street that ended Diaz's life. Diaz's relatives watched the brief proceeding, then spoke outside the courthouse about a loss they say has shaken their family and their neighborhood.
CBS News New York's Jenna DeAngelis reported that Peña changed his plea in court and then spoke with Diaz's family, who did not hide their frustration. One relative said, "My son's life mattered just like anyone else's," as reported by CBS News New York.
Prosecutors allege Peña was driving about 83 mph in a 25 mph zone when his Mercedes ran a red light and T-boned Diaz's car. A subsequent blood test showed a blood-alcohol content of .156 and traces of cocaine and marijuana, officials say. Surveillance video and multiple police body-worn camera recordings are key evidence in the case, as reported by ABC7 New York.
Charges and legal exposure
Peña was indicted on a 14-count complaint that includes manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular manslaughter, multiple operating-under-the-influence counts and related offenses. The Queens District Attorney's office says the top count carries a potential maximum prison sentence of up to 15 years, and Assistant District Attorneys Vivian Gonzalez and Abigail Neuviller are leading the prosecution, per Queens District Attorney.
Earlier coverage
Hoodline previously covered Peña's April 2025 arraignment, when he entered a not guilty plea. That earlier story collected the indictment details, surveillance reports and family statements that helped drive public interest in the case.
Victim and community reaction
Diaz, 23, had recently earned a degree in aeronautics and was on his way to an early shift at LaGuardia Airport when he was struck, family members said. The crash and Peña's conduct that night, prosecutors allege he remained at the scene and later tested over the legal limit, have prompted anger and calls for accountability in the neighborhood, as reported by ABC7 New York.
Next court dates
Court calendars had Peña listed for conferences this week in Queens Criminal Court. With the guilty plea now entered, a judge is expected to set a sentencing date and outline other post-plea steps. The District Attorney's upcoming cases calendar included Peña on the K25 docket this week, per Queens District Attorney.
