Alleged Drunk Driver Collared
A suspected drunk driver was arrested by police for fatally striking a 76-year-old man who was trying to cross a Woodhaven street last Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 27, law enforcement sources reported.
Police said that Viveshdyal Thakoordyal, 47, of 121st Street in Richmond Hill was booked on vehicular manslaughter and DWI charges for allegedly causing the accident that claimed the life of John Eberling, 76, of 77th Street.
Reportedly, the incident took place at around 4:30 p.m. last Wednesday at the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 80th Street.
According to information obtained by the NYPD, Eberling was crossing Jamaica Avenue from north to south when he was hit by a maroon Nissan Pathfinder allegedly operated by Thakoordyal and traveling eastbound on the shopping strip.
Members of the 102nd Precinct and EMS units responded to the scene. Eberling, who suffered severe head trauma and went into cardiac arrest, was rushed by paramedics to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police officers at the scene found Thakoordyal sitting behind the wheel of the Nissan Pathfinder that struck Eberling. According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, the officers observed the suspect exhibiting various signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, an odor of alcohol on his breath and unsteadiness upon exiting the vehicle.
A member of NYPD Highway Patrol Unit 2 reportedly administered a breathalyzer test which found Thakoordyal had a blood alcohol level of .13 percent, well above the legal limit of .08 percent.
The criminal complaint noted that officers brought the suspect to the 112th Precinct’s Forest Hills stationhouse for a follow-up intoxilyzer exam, which confirmed that the suspect allegedly had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.
Thakoordyal was taken into custody and arraigned the following day, Thursday, Feb. 28, in Queens Criminal Court on charges of first- and second degree vehicular manslaughter and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, according to a spokesperson for Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
During the arraignment hearing, Judge John Zoll ordered Thakoordyal held on $50,000 bail and to return to court on Mar. 13.
