A drag racer who led police on a high-speed chase through southern Queens in August 2016 faces up to six months behind bars, according to prosecutors.
On April 24, 26-year old Bronx resident Juan Ramirez pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment and participating in a unregulated speed contest or race, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown’s office. He will be sentenced on June 18 and faces six months jail time and five years of probation.
On Aug. 23, 2016 at approximately 2 a.m., Ramirez was seen driving an enhanced 1992 Honda Civic on the Nassau Expressway in Queens. He was racing with another unapprehended driver, according to prosecutors.
A police officer engaged his vehicle’s sirens and lights and angled his car to cut off Ramirez’ path to indicate a car stop. Ramirez slowed down and pulled toward the side of the expressway, prosecutors said, but suddenly took off, sending police on a high speed chase through Springfield Gardens.
Driving at speeds exceeding 115 miles per hour, Ramirez eventually drove into a cul-de-sac and crashed into a fence, but still attempted to flee the scene by accelerating in reverse and nearly struck a police officer, prosecutors noted. The defendant, who realized the car’s bumper was stuck in the fence, tried to flee the scene on foot, but was soon apprehended by authorities.
“Drag racing on city streets — and expressways — is a disaster waiting to happen,” Brown said in a statement. “Not only did this defendant endanger himself, but everyone else as well.”
“This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in Queens County,” he continued. “The defendant deserves some time to cool his need for speed and will get just that when sentenced to jail time in the coming weeks.”
