Maria Guallpa-Bonilla, a 36-year-old resident of Bellport, has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal crash that occurred on June 10, 2024. The incident resulted in the death of Christopher Hlavaty, a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter from East Patchogue.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney stated, "This defendant’s actions in leaving a young man to die on the road, after striking and running over his body, were callous and unconscionable." He further emphasized that motorcyclists should not have to worry about being struck by vehicles and left without aid.
Court documents revealed that on the evening of June 10, Guallpa-Bonilla left her job on Medford Avenue in Patchogue. Around 10:47 p.m., she drove westbound on East Main Street in Patchogue in a blue 2001 Mercury Cougar. She was operating the vehicle without another licensed driver as required by her permit restrictions.
As she turned southbound onto Rider Avenue, Guallpa-Bonilla struck Hlavaty's eastbound motorcycle. After driving over him with both front and rear tires, she left the scene without stopping or providing assistance and did not report the incident to law enforcement. Hlavaty succumbed to his injuries from the crash.
Law enforcement found car parts at the scene belonging to a 2001 Mercury Cougar. Two days later, police discovered the vehicle at Guallpa-Bonilla's residence allegedly covered with a tarp.
On October 16, Guallpa-Bonilla admitted guilt before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting—a Class D felony. Under New York State law, she faces up to 2⅓ to 7 years in prison if convicted on this top count. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office recommended a sentence of 2 to 6 years.