By Gina Martinez
(Queens DA corrects address of suspect, who is from Richmond Hill)
Police have made an arrest in the Ozone Park hit-and-run case that left a mother dead and her 9-year-old daughter seriously injured.
Jairam Budhu, 58, of Richmond Hill has been charged with manslaughter, leaving the scene of the accident causing death and criminally negligent homicide, the NYPD said. The hit-and- run accident took place Sunday afternoon when Budhu allegedly drove past a stop sign and slammed into the victims’ car, then fled, according to police.
Zaalika Rasool, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident where she and her daughter were found unconscious on the street after being ejected from the back seat of their car, according to police. Both Rasool and her daughter had extreme trauma to the head and body. Her daughter was taken to Long Island Jewish Hospital, where she is in critical condition, according to police.
Budhu was traveling westbound on 115th Avenue at 130th Street in a 2002 BMW X5 when he ignored a stop sign and continued though the intersection without slowing down, police said. It was at the intersection that he collided with a 2010 Toyota Corolla that was traveling north on 130th Street, police said. The BMW hit three other parked cars before coming to a stop, according to the NYPD. Budhu then fled from the scene, police said.
Also in the Toyota was an unidentified 71-year-old in the front passenger seat and the driver, Assam Rasool, the victim’s husband, police said.
