BELLPORT WOMAN INDICTED FOR LEAVING THE SCENE OF A CRASH THAT KILLED VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Maria Guallpa-Bonilla, 36, of Bellport, was indicted for Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting and driving in violation of a license restriction, for allegedly causing the death of Christopher Hlavaty, 22, of East Patchogue, a volunteer firefighter for the Hagerman Fire Department, after a hit and run crash.

“This defendant’s alleged actions in leaving a man to die in the road after striking him and running over his body, were callous and unconscionable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Christopher Hlavaty was loved by his community and dedicated his time to helping others as a volunteer firefighter. We will seek justice for Mr. Hlavaty and his loved ones.”

According to the investigation, on the evening of June 10, 2024, at approximately 10:47 p.m., Guallpa-Bonilla allegedly left her job in Patchogue and began to drive home alone in a blue 2001 Mercury Cougar. At the time, Guallpa-Bonilla only had a New York State driving permit which required her to be with a licensed driver while she operated a vehicle.

While Guallpa-Bonilla was making a left-hand turn onto Rider Avenue, she allegedly struck Hlavaty, who was riding his 2008 Suzuki motorcycle, and then ran over his body.

Guallpa-Bonilla then allegedly fled the scene without stopping, rendering aid to Hlavaty, or reporting the collision to law enforcement. Hlavaty died later that night as a result of the injuries he sustained from the crash.

Law enforcement found car parts at the scene of the collision and later determined that they belonged to a 2001 Mercury Cougar. Two days later, police located a 2001 Mercury Cougar covered by a tarp in Guallpa-Bonilla’s driveway. The car parts recovered from the scene allegedly matched the damage seen on Guallpa-Bonilla’s Mercury.

On July 18, 2024, Guallpa-Bonilla was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, for Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony, and Driving in Violation of Restrictions on her Permit, a traffic infraction.

Justice Mazzei ordered Guallpa-Bonilla be held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. In addition, Guallpa-Bonilla’s driving privileges in New York State were suspended, and she was ordered to surrender her passport.

Guallpa-Bonilla is due back in court on August 15, 2024, and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count. She is being represented by Brett Bennett, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Raymond Varuolo of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Joseph Bianco of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit.

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

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