An East Hills man has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after he fatally struck an 81-year-old Roslyn Heights woman last April.
Nassau County Kathleen Rice announced earlier this week that Thomas Krauss, 26, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident where a fatality occurred in exchange for a promised sentence from Judge Philip Grella capped at one-to-three years in prison. Krauss will be sentenced May 2.
At approximately 4:45 p.m. on April 19 last year, Krauss was driving his 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastbound on Warner Avenue in Roslyn Heights when he struck Vaghar Giae, 81, of Roslyn Heights, who was crossing the street northbound, according to Rice.
Giae, taking her daily walk, was on her way to a nearby 7-11 to purchase candy for her grandchildren. The impact knocked Giae out of her shoes, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rice said that Krauss did not exit his vehicle and immediately fled the scene and drove home. Police located his vehicle at Albertson Auto Body two days later, finding damage consistent with that of hitting a person, and also finding Giae’s hair on the front of the vehicle. Police subsequently arrested Krauss at his house.
“To run over a fellow human being and then flee the scene shows not just a shocking capacity for cruelty, but also for cowardice,” Rice said. “Excellent work by police and members of my office, however, guaranteed that this defendant would not be able to hide from what he had done.”
Assistant District Attorney Michael Bushwack of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Krauss is represented by Dennis Lemke.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204
