By Alex Ginsberg
More than three months after Emmanuel Kanios allegedly struck and killed a 10-year-old boy with his SUV on Ditmars Boulevard, a grand jury has indicted the Jackson Heights resident on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, the district attorney’s office said Wednesday.
Kanios, 19, was already charged with speeding and leaving the scene of an accident following the April 12 incident. He now faces a possible sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted on the homicide charge.
“The charges are serious and will be vigorously prosecuted,” said Queens DA Richard Brown.
According to authorities, Kanios hit Stephan Trajkovski, a fifth-grade student at nearby PS 2, as the boy was riding his bicycle near the corner of Ditmars Boulevard and 75th Street. Witnesses described seeing Trajkovski fly through the air about 100 feet.
Police and witnesses said Kanios was speeding at the time. He allegedly left the scene, according to the Queens DA, but turned himself in to officers six hours later.
Kanios was released on $10,000 bond following his arrest, but will now have to return for an additional arraignment at which higher bail may be set, the DA’s office said.
Trajkovski lingered in a coma at Elmhurst Hospital Center for six days after the crash before succumbing to his injuries April 18.
His father Zoran Trajkovski and his mother returned to their native Macedonia to bury their son.
The tragedy drew attention to an intersection residents said was plagued by speeding motorists. Last month, the city Department of Transportation announced that a traffic signal — long demanded by neighborhood residents — would be installed at the intersection.
Reach reporter Alex Ginsberg by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 157.
