Freeport Man indicted for fatal DWI

Tyshaun Johashen, a resident of Freeport, faced arraignment on multiple charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, after allegedly driving under the influence and fatally striking a 24-year-old woman on Babylon Turnpike in March. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly made the announcement, emphasizing the severity of the charges against Johashen.

Appearing before Judge Robert Bogle, the defendant was arraigned on a range of charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, manslaughter, Assault, Aggravated driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and various counts of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Johashen pleaded not guilty during the hearing, and the court maintained his bail at $250,000 in cash, $500,000 in bond, and a partially secured bond of $2.25 million. The next court date for Johashen is scheduled for August 1. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence ranging from 8-1/3 to 25 years.

“This defendant, driving despite having his license suspended because of a pending DWI charge in New York City, was allegedly three times the legal limit for alcohol when he struck and killed Mia Pollidore as she simply tried to cross the street,” Donnelly said. “As we prosecute this case, we are also entering what is known as the 100 deadliest days on our roadways. I urge everyone taking to Nassau County’s highways, parkways, and streets to exercise their common sense: do not drink anddrive. We cannot lose another life to drunk driving.”

The charges outline the events of March 1. Around 7 p.m., Mia Pollidore was walking westbound across Babylon Turnpike, just south of the Babylon Turnpike and Carroll Street intersection. Meanwhile, Johashen was driving a 2018 Nissan Sentra, allegedly highly intoxicated, and heading southbound on Babylon Turnpike when he collided with Pollidore as she crossed the street.

As a result of the collision, Pollidore sustained severe head and leg injuries, and she was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 7:11 p.m. Law enforcement officers from both the Nassau County and Freeport Police Departments apprehended Johashen at the scene of the incident.

It was discovered that Johashen’s driver’s license had been suspended in September 2022 due to a pending DWI prosecution in Queens.

Senior Assistant District Attorneys Tara DePalo and Brianna Ryan, both members of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau, are leading the prosecution. Richard Langone, Esq. is representing the defendant in the case.

It is important to note that the charges against Johashen are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.