Drunk driver who killed Queens tow truck operator on LIE indicted; victim remembered as ‘one in a million’ family man – New York Daily News

An accused drunk driver who killed a tow-truck operator on the Long Island Expressway was indicted as former colleagues lined the street outside a Queens courthouse in solidarity Thursday.

Denzel Porter, 28, is set to be prosecuted in Queens Supreme Court on multiple counts, including criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and vehicular assault in the Oct. 8 death of Carlos Santiago.

Santiago, 47, was helping 27-year-old Rakiem Ali with his broken-down Nissan sedan in the shoulder of the westbound lanes of the expressway near Woodhaven Blvd. around 3:30 a.m., prosecutors said.

Meanwhile, Porter was behind the wheel of a Dodge Durango zipping across the LIE in the same direction. He had two female passengers in the car with him.

As Santiago worked to connect his truck to the disabled Nissan, Porter lost control and slammed into a silver Volkswagen SUV driven by 66-year-old Peter Park, prosecutors said.

Both Porter and Park’s cars careened toward the disabled Nissan in the shoulder, which struck Santiago and Ali, they added.

The impact sent Santiago flying toward the service road. He suffered severe trauma to his lower body, including the loss of a leg.

Both he and Ali were taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where Santiago died. The younger man survived after extensive surgeries.

Porter, his passengers and the driver of the Volkswagen were treated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens for minor injuries.

Police later determined Porter was drunk behind the wheel.

“There’s nothing more selfish than getting behind the wheel and driving under the influence,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “Everyone with whom we share the road deserves our respect and consideration and has every right to reach their destination safely.”

At Porter’s indictment hearing Thursday morning, dozens of tow truck drivers parked outside Queens Criminal Court, including Santiago’s friends still mourning the man.

“There’s not enough words to say about him,” said Gasper La Rosa, 57. “Always there, great family man, kids. He was just one in a million. Great guy all around.”

La Rosa — a tow truck driver with Sonny’s Collision in Ozone Park — launched Tow Trucks for Kids of NYC about seven years ago. The foundation works predominately with special needs children on holidays and birthdays.

“We get a whole bunch of tow trucks and we go to their house with lights, sirens and drop toys off,” said La Rosa. “[Santiago] was definitely a big part of it. He’s missed.”

La Rosa spoke with Santiago the day before he died.

“Then four months ago, I got that phone call that you never want to get,” he recalled. “Just the way he died, I can’t even talk about it. It was just so overwhelming.”

Santiago, of Howard Beach, was a dad to three children. He worked for Knights Towing before he died.

“He’s old school,” La Rosa said of the man. “Respect, morals, family.”

If convicted, Porter, of Laurelton, Queens, could face up to seven years behind bars, prosecutors said.

“Hopefully we get justice,” La Rosa said. “We’re not going to stop until we get justice.”