A Jamaica man was indicted on vehicular homicide, DWI and other charges for a horrific crash near JFK Airport that killed a mother and daughter from Long Island last month.
Tyrone Absolam, 42, of 133rd Avenue, was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone Jr. Friday morning on a 16-count indictment rendered by a grand jury on aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and other charges.
Justice Vallone continued remand for the defendant and set his return date for Sept. 7. Absolam faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
According to the indictment, at approximately 8:45 p.m. on July 24, Abolam was exceeding the speed limit as he drove a 2018 gray Nissan Altima westbound on Rockaway Boulevard.
Diana Granobles, 31, of Copiague, was making a left turn at the intersection of Rockaway and Guy R. Brewer boulevards when Absolam allegedly smashed into the victim’s Chevy Cruze The woman’s 10-year-old daughter Isabella was in the car with her.
Both the mother and child were immediately transported to Jamaica Hospital, where they were pronounced dead from their injuries. Absolam and his 38-year-old girlfriend were transported to Jamaica Hospital while her two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, were taken to Long Island Jewish Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center in serious but stable condition, according to the indictment.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Absolam’s blood alcohol level was allegedly .15, above the legal limit of .08.
The posted speed limit on Rockaway and Guy R. Brewer boulevards is 35 mph, but Absolam was allegedly travelling at 94 mph two seconds before crashing into the victim’s car.
“As alleged, a family now mourns the loss of a mother and her 10 year-old daughter because of the defendant’s selfish decision to ignore the rules of the road,” Katz said. “Drunk driving is never acceptable. The defendant now faces very serious charges for his alleged actions.”
