By Alex Davidson
Gurpreet Oberoi, 26, of 116-11 91st Ave., was charged with criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and aggravated unlicensed operation in the death of Peter Hornbeck, who was just blocks away from home when he was allegedly struck by Oberoi, Morgenthau said.
The defendant faces up to four years in prison for homicide and leaving the scene of an accident, and an additional year in jail if convicted of the aggravated unlicensed operation charge, the DA said.
“The investigation into this death is continuing and if there are any other witnesses available who can shed light on this terrible incident, I urge them to contact the police or my office,” Morgenthau said.
The DA said Oberoi, who was driving his father's 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, was heading northbound on Park Avenue when he struck Hornbeck as the victim tried to cross East 96th St. Morgenthau said Hornbeck was dragged for a block to East 97th St. where his body was left for dead.
Morgenthau also said Oberoi continued driving his car to 100th Street, where he abandoned the vehicle, then fled to Atlantic City. Other passengers in Oberoi's car phoned police and told authorities Oberoi had struck and killed Hornbeck, the DA said.
Oberoi was later apprehended by authorities.
The district attorney said his investigation showed the defendant had been speeding but did not specify how many miles per hour over the legal speed limit Oberoi was driving.
This is the second time in the last two months that a Queens man has been involved in a hit-and-run incident in Manhattan.
On Dec. 27, a Glen Oaks cab driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a newsstand on Manhattan's East side, killing a pedestrian with ties to Astoria.
The victim, identified by police as Ralph Onorato, 76, was taken to New York Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he later died, according to the hospital.
The cab driver, Sol Smuller, also 76, received minor injuries and was not charged, police said.
According to police, Smuller told them he was driving on Second Avenue when his gas pedal got stuck and the brakes failed. As a result, he careened into two cars before striking a newsstand near 57th Street, which fell onto Onorato, who was walking by. A worker at the newsstand was trapped, but a doorman pulled him to safety, police said. The New York Times identified the worker as Nurul “Bobby” Amin of Ozone Park.
Anyone with any information in the incident is encouraged to call the Manhattan District Attorney's office at (212) 335-9000.
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
