Attorney for Victim's Family Comments on Arraignment of Truck Driver for Manslaughter Charges Related to 2012 Head-On Crash in Locust Valley

Attorney John Dalli of Dalli & Marino, LLP, who is representing the family of Jorge Guevara, a bus driver who was killed in a head-on crash on July 23, 2012, is available to speak about the arraignment of Raymond Ragen on second-degree manslaughter charges. Mr. Ragen allegedly caused the crash that resulted in Mr. Guevara’s death when his vehicle hit a Long Island Rail Road overpass on Oyster Bay Road in Locust Valley and careened into the other lane, hitting the school bus head-on.

“Today, we learned that the operator of the cement truck involved in this horrific crash has been charged with being under the influence of drugs and talking on his cell phone at the time of the crash,” Mr. Dalli said. “At the arraignment, we also learned that Mr. Ragen has a long criminal history, including multiple drug convictions. We are at a loss to understand how he could be hired to operate a nearly 40,000-pound vehicle in residential areas. Mr. Ragen’s employer is as responsible for Mr. Guevara’s death as the person they hired to be behind the wheel.”

On January 23, Mr. Ragen was arraigned in Nassau County Court before Judge Tammy Robbins. He faces charges of second-degree manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, first-degree vehicular assault, two counts of second-degree assault, three counts of third-degree assault, two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree reckless endangerment, driving while ability impaired by drugs in a commercial vehicle, reckless driving, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and using a mobile phone while driving.

On October 22, 2012, Mr. Dalli filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County on behalf of Mr. Guevara’s family which includes causes of action for wrongful death and conscious pain and suffering. Those named as defendants in the lawsuit include Mr. Ragen, S. Nicolia & Sons Realty Corp., Metropolitan Ready Mix Equipment Corp., Nicolia Ready Mix Corp. and Nicolia Ready-Mix Corporation.

For more information, call (516) 292-4700 or visit www.dallimarino.com.