Crown Heights Man Faces 15 Years In Prison For Fatal Crash: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — A Crown Heights man is facing up to 15 years in prison after a "series of dangerous decisions" ended with his car spinning into and killing a woman on a Brooklyn crosswalk, prosecutors announced.

Michael Rajpaul, 23, was indicted Wednesday on reckless manslaughter charges stemming from the December crash that killed 53-year-old Rosana Lopez on East 55th Street.

Rajpaul's car spun into Lopez when he sped into traffic after escaping another crash by going the wrong way down a one-way street, according to prosecutors.

“This defendant allegedly made a series of dangerous decisions that led to him speeding the wrong way on street into a busy intersection, causing a pedestrian to lose her life," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "We have zero tolerance for reckless and unlawful driving in Brooklyn, and, with the help of our Street Safety Bureau, have stepped up indictments against drivers who kill or injure others. Everyone using our streets and roads must do so in a legal and responsible manner.”

The chaotic series of events began when Rajpaul, driving a 2008 Hyundai, hit a black BMW on Kings Highway, prosecutors said.

Instead of stopping, he drove off the highway as the BMW followed him, eventually turning the wrong way down East 55th Street, a one-way street, prosecutors said.

Rajpaul then sped into an intersection without stopping or slowing down despite the fact that traffic coming from the cross street, Glenwood Road, had a green light, prosecutors said.

His Hyundai was T-boned by a Honda that was driving through the green light, sending it hurdling toward Lopez as she crossed the East 55th Street crosswalk, officials said.

She was taken to Kings County Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Rajpaul was indicted on second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, criminally negligent homicide and other charges. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said.

He remains out on $75,000 bail and was ordered to return to court in July.