BAY SHORE MAN INDICTED FOR LEAVING THE SCENE OF A CRASH THAT KILLED A PEDESTRIAN

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Elian Jurado Zavala, 19, of Bay Shore, who is accused of fatally striking 25-year-old Nicholas Puzio, of Farmingville, and fleeing the scene.

“This defendant allegedly drove away from the scene of a deadly crash and went home as if nothing had happened, leaving the victim to die in the street,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Although the defendant initially tried to avoid responsibility by allegedly fleeing, he will now be forced to answer for this crime.”

According to court documents, on March 12, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Jurado Zavala was operating a white 2014 Honda Civic southbound on Route 112 near Oak Street in Patchogue, when he allegedly struck the victim, Nicholas Puzio, who was walking in the street. Puzio later died at the hospital from injuries he sustained from the impact. Jurado Zavala allegedly left the scene of the crash without contacting police or stopping to check on Puzio and pulled over into a nearby gas station for a brief period before driving home.

The next day, Suffolk County Police Department Detectives located Jurado Zavala’s vehicle at his home in Bay Shore and observed damage to the windshield and fender of the vehicle. Jurado Zavala was placed under arrest that day.

On July 5, 2023, Jurado Zavala was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro, for Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony. Judge Ambro placed Jurado Zavala on supervised release during the pendency of the case. Jurado Zavala is due back in court on July 31, 2023, and is being represented by Robert Macedonio, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Raymond Varuolo of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Suffolk County Police Department Detective Stephen Jacobs of the Major Case Squad.

###

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

725 Veterans Memorial Highway ● Building 77 ● Hauppauge, NY 11788 ● 631.852.3185

SuffolkCountyNY.gov/DA ● twitter.com/RayTierneyDA ● instagram.com/RayTierneyDA