Belt Parkway near the Sunrise Highway overpass, Rosedale · February 8, 2025, about 3:45 a.m.
A 31-year-old Amityville man has been indicted in Queens on manslaughter, DWI, and weapon charges after prosecutors say he drove 115 miles per hour on the Belt Parkway and crashed, killing his 27-year-old passenger.
What prosecutors say happened
According to the Queens District Attorney, Elizabeth Vanessa Perla-Hernandez, 27, had driven herself and Kenyatta Weston Jr. from Long Island to a bar on Avenue U in Brooklyn. After about two and a half hours of drinking, prosecutors say, Mr. Weston took the wheel of her white Toyota Camry. About 15 minutes after leaving, near the Sunrise Highway overpass in Rosedale, the car was traveling about 115 mph in a 45 mph zone when it hit cushion barrels on the grassy shoulder. Neither wore a seatbelt. Ms. Perla-Hernandez died at the hospital. His BAC, measured about an hour later, was .16. A 9mm handgun was recovered from the driver's footwell.
The charges
The 13-count indictment includes second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of DWI, reckless driving, and speeding. He was remanded by Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Hartofilis and faces up to 22 years if convicted.
What this case shows
This case has the classic features of the most serious Queens DWI cases: a late-night drive home from a bar, a highway, and extreme speed. At 115 mph, the recklessness supports a manslaughter count on its own, separate from the vehicular manslaughter count that depends on intoxication. The decision that mattered most was made in the parking lot, when the driver changed.
Where the case stands
The case was next scheduled for April 23, 2026. We found no public report of a plea or verdict as of September 2026. Mr. Weston is presumed innocent.
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This article is drawn from public court filings, official releases and news reports, and is provided for general information only. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Nothing here predicts the outcome of any other case, and nothing here is legal advice.