Crime & Safety

Wrong-way Driver Indicted for Fatal Crash

One man was killed in the July crash and two were injured, including the defendent.

The Queens woman who allegedly caused a wrong-way fatal crash on the New England Thruway in July was arraigned Friday on a nine-count indictment.

Tanisha Gomez, 26, of Ozone Park was charged with the following:

  • Three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, felonies
  • Second-degree manslaughter, felony
  • First-degree vehicular assault, felony
  • Aggravated driving while intoxicated, misdemeanor
  • Two counts of driving while intoxicated, misdemeanors
  • Reckless driving, misdemeanor

Around 4:31 a.m. July 24, Gomez allegedly struck another vehicle head on while she was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of I-95 in New Rochelle.

Police said she had been driving her vehicle in the wrong direction of the Thruway for at least 6.4 miles in New York City and Westchester County.

Gomez was alone in her car. There was a driver and a front-seat passenger, Reginald Lee, in the other vehicle. They all had to be extricated from their cars by emergency crews from New Rochelle, along with the New York State Police.

Lee was pronounced dead at Sound Shore Medical Center. The other driver sustained serious physical injuries.

Gomez was also injured in the crash and was treated at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. Bail continues at $50,000 bond.

Her next court appearance is Oct. 18. Gomez faces a maximum of eight-and-one-third to 25 years in state prison.


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