Wilkens Thelusma allegedly struck victim who had just crashed a box truck into the center median
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Farmingdale man who allegedly fled the scene of a fatal accident on the Southern State Parkway on Oct. 15, was arraigned on a grand jury indictment charge today.
Wilkens Thelusma, 37, was arraigned before Court of Claims Judge Alan Honorof on one count of Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Collision (a D felony). Thelusma faces up to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison. His bail status was continued at $50,000 cash or bond and he is due back in court on Jan. 12.
“This defendant allegedly struck a man on the Southern State Parkway, and instead of calling 911 and alerting authorities that a man lay dying on the highway, he fled the scene,” Acting DA Singas said. “Thankfully our partners in the New York State Police were able to track the defendant to his home and arrest him.”
Acting DA Singas said that at approximately 1:46am on Oct. 15, Thelusma was driving a gray 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe eastbound on the Southern State Parkway east of exit 20. While driving in the left lane, the defendant allegedly struck and killed 28 year old Rick Munoz, who had, minutes earlier, crashed a stolen box truck into the center median of the parkway and was walking in the lanes of travel.
Thelusma’s vehicle sustained substantial front and passenger side damage and the passenger side view mirror broke off the car. The defendant left the scene, leaving his side view mirror, as well as other debris from his car, behind. Using the side view mirror, the New York State Police were able to track the vehicle back to defendant’s home in Farmingdale. There, they found a gray 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe parked in the driveway, which had substantial front and passenger side damage and was missing its side view mirror. Small amounts of blood had splattered along the front and passenger side of the vehicle.
The defendant surrendered to New York State Police on Oct. 18.
Assistant District Attorney Steven Henesy of Acting DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case. Thelusma is represented by Andrew Quinn, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.