Jaden D'Souza, of Queens, indicted in crash that killed sister, friend on Southern State Parkway

A 20-year-old Queens man who authorities said crashed his car on the Southern State Parkway in January while driving 123 mph and impaired by cannabis, killing his sister and a female friend, has been indicted on numerous charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide.

Court records show Jaden D'Souza, of College Point, entered a plea of not guilty before Judge Caryn Fink and was released on $500,000 bond.

If convicted, D'Souza faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison. He is scheduled to return to court on June 2.

Prosecutors charged that D'Souza was behind the wheel of a 2016 Dodge Dart at about 11:05 p.m. on Jan. 12, driving as fast as 123 mph and weaving in and out of traffic on the eastbound parkway while impaired by marijuana when he lost control of the car, went off the road and crashed into a tree near Exit 30 in North Massapequa.

The car came to rest upside down on the road shoulder, police said.

Prosecutors said D'Souza's sister, Haily D'Souza, 21, was trapped in the rear passenger seat — and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another backseat passenger, Crystal Alba-Figueroa, 23, was ejected from the vehicle and also died at the scene, prosecutors said.

A front-seat passenger, identified only as a 23-year-old man, was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow with what were termed "serious physical injuries" — including spinal fractures and a traumatic brain injury. Jaden D'Souza was treated at NUMC for undisclosed injuries and later released, prosecutors and law enforcement officials said.

In a statement Thursday, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said during the crash investigation state police recovered "several cannabis products" from the vehicle and crash debris, including THC-infused products, rolling papers, a bong and lighters.

A search warrant to test D'Souza's blood resulted in a sample the district attorney's office Thursday said "contained a high level of the active and impairing component of cannabis." Prosecutors said records indicating D'Souza was driving 123 mph when he crashed the Dart were discovered among the event data recorder recovered from the wreck.

D'Souza was arrested by state police Jan. 13 while at NUMC.

In addition to those traveling in the Dodge Dart who were killed or injured, prosecutors said a spare tire dislodged from the car during the crash struck another vehicle on the eastbound parkway, causing that vehicle to crash into a guardrail, injuring that driver.

In a statement Thursday, Donnelly said "driving high is driving impaired," adding: "It is never a safe choice, and it can have catastrophic, heartbreaking consequences." 

In addition to being charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, D'Souza is charged with first-degree vehicular manslaughter, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, three counts of second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular assault, third-degree assault, driving while ability impaired by drugs and reckless driving.

D’Souza’s attorney, Donald T. Rollock, of Mineola, said the deaths are a "very tragic loss and it’s a very difficult situation."

"We’ve got to look at the indictment and go through all the evidence and then we’ll make an informed decision," he said Thursday.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”