Baldwin man arraigned two months after fatal hit-and-run

A Baldwin man, who was arrested in August in connection with a fatal hit-and-run, was arraigned Oct. 21 on four charges, including two felonies.

Cosmin Florea, 34, faces up to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison if convicted of the top counts. He was arraigned before Nassau County Court Judge Helene Gugerty on second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting, two counts of driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired-drugs charges.

According to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, Florea was driving a 2010 Ford Fusion on Aug. 15 at 11:57 p.m. in Port Washington when he struck Donald Mooney, 49, of Lynbrook, who was walking across Main Street west of South Bayles Avenue.

Florea left the scene and was later stopped in Queens by the New York Police Department, who observed damage to the vehicle’s windshield. Alcohol and marijuana were found to be in his system at the time of the crash. Florea was arrested by the Port Washington Police Department and processed by the Nassau County Police Department.

“This defendant not only struck and killed an innocent pedestrian while drunk and high on drugs, he left him where he lay without even stopping his vehicle,” Rice said.Mooney was transported to North Shore University Hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to Rice. “The tragic death of Donald Mooney is yet another example of how legislation increasing penalties for leaving the scene of a fatal crash is needed in order to help keep the public safe from drunk and drugged drivers,” Rice said.

Florea is due back in court on Nov. 20.