Suffolk DA: Driver Pleads Not Guilty In North Bellport Crash That Killed Pair On Dirt Bike
Mastic Beach, NY - November 6, 2017 - A 27 year old Mastic Beach man pleaded not guilty this afternoon at his arraignment on charges of recklessly causing a crash that killed two people on Montauk Highway on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at approximately 10:15 a.m
A Suffolk County grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Christopher Bouchard with two counts of manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of criminally negligent homicide and one count of reckless driving after hearing from a dozen witnesses and reviewing evidence from a crash reconstruction and crash reenactment.
Bouchard’s minivan collided with a dirt bike driven by Keenen King, 19, of Shirley. King and his passenger, Anthony Holmes-Garriques, 20, of North Bellport, died of their injuries. The dirt bike had been reported stolen earlier in the day from the garage of Bouchard’s home. The defendant later heard from a friend who reported seeing the bike in Bellport. The defendant and his brother went to Bellport to search for the bike and soon thereafter a chase ensued that ended when Bouchard rear-ended the dirt bike on Montauk Highway.
The police investigation found Bouchard operated his van at a high rate of speed, failing to maintain his lane and at an unsafe distance during the chase.
State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho set cash bail for Bouchard at $400,000 or $800,000 bond.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.