Crime & Safety

Pedestrian Killed in DWI Accident Will Be Buried in Guatemala

A funeral service was held on Thursday.

A funeral service for Efren Ramirez-Gomez will be held at the in Riverhead on Thursday evening from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m.

His body will be flown to his native country of Guatemala for burial. According to staffers at the North Fork Spanish Apostolate, Ramirez-Gomez leaves behind a wife and three children and worked at McDonald's.

Ramirez-Gomez, 32, of Riverside, was the when he was allegedly struck by a car driven by Chrisopher A. Dean, 41, of Riverhead, who was charged with driving while intoxicated. Dean is a Suffolk County corrections officer.

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According to Southampton Town police, a call was received at approximately 12:33 a.m. on Monday regarding a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred near the intersection of Flanders Road and Old Quogue Road in Riverside. 

Dean, who was driving a 2002 Mercedes–Benz, was traveling westbound on Flanders Road when police allege he struck and killed a pedestrian who was walking on the westbound side of the roadway.  

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Southampton Town police and detectives responding to the scene found a man lying dead in the westbound travel portion of the roadway.

Dean was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Southampton Town police headquarters where he submitted to a blood test and was held overnight for a morning arraignment.  

Members of the Flanders Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the New York State Troopers, and the Riverhead Fire Department also responded to the scene to assist.

Detectives initially asked for the public's help in identifying the victim, who was described as being approximately 5’ tall with black hair, and was a middle aged Hispanic male.

Traffic was closed in both directions from the traffic circle to Ludlam Avenue during the course of the investigation and has since reopened.  

Dean posted $10,000 bail and was released. He is expected back in Southampton Town Justice Court on July 25 at 9 a.m.

Related Topics: Christopher DeanDWIFatal MVARiverside, and Suffolk County Corrections officer

 


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