A 30-year-old man in Queens, New York, faces charges after allegedly driving intoxicated and striking a 54-year-old mother of four on her electric scooter. The incident occurred in a designated bike lane where the victim had the right of way. Authorities say the crash has led to an indictment on manslaughter and DUI counts.
On January 4, at approximately 1:40 a.m., Ryan Rampersaud was driving a 2009 Honda Civic southbound on Crescent Street in Astoria, Queens. As he turned left onto 30th Drive, he failed to yield to oncoming traffic and collided with Blanca Arias-Miranda, who was riding a stand-up electric scooter in a designated bike lane.
Arias-Miranda, a 54-year-old mother of four, was thrown from the scooter and suffered severe brain trauma after hitting her head on the pavement. A witness called 911, and paramedics transported her to a nearby hospital. She was pronounced dead two days later.
Rampersaud remained at the scene until police arrived. Officers noted signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, unsteadiness, and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Vomit was found on the front seat of his vehicle. He refused a Breathalyzer test at the station around 4 a.m., but a court-ordered blood test revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12%, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08%.
A Queens grand jury indicted Rampersaud last week on one count of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, one count of criminally negligent homicide, and two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated: "As alleged, the defendant was driving while intoxicated, barreled into a scooter operated by Blanca Arias-Miranda and killed the 54-year-old mother of four. Tragically, the victim had the right of way and was in a designated bike lane when she was struck by this defendant. Our roadways must be safe for all who use them, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and scooter operators. The defendant's actions have forever changed the lives of Ms. Arias-Miranda's family, and we will aggressively prosecute this case."
Rampersaud appeared in Queens Supreme Court before Justice Michael J. Hartofilis, who scheduled his next appearance for March 26. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
The victim's family has launched a GoFundMe to cover legal and funeral costs, describing Arias-Miranda as "the heart of our family – a devoted wife, a fiercely loving mother, and a proud grandmother." Family civil attorney Justin Blitz indicated they may pursue action against the city regarding "flawed traffic light patterns" at the intersection.
