Crime

Driver indicted in fatal Island Park hit-and-run

Henson could face 22 years

Posted

Corey Henson, 32, of Centereach has been indicted on charges that he struck and killed 30-year-old Dodanim Emanuel Chavez of Island Park while driving drunk last July, and then fled the scene.

Henson was arraigned May 3 before Judge Christopher Hoefenkrieg on charges of manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death, assault and driving while intoxicated, which is an unclassified misdemeanor.

He pleaded not guilty; bail was set, and his license was suspended. He is due back in court on June 1, and if convicted, he could face seven to 22 years in prison.

A press release from District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s office states that, according to the charges, on July 11, 2022, at approximately 9:07 p.m., Chavez was moving belongings from his home to a new home with the help of two friends. While standing along the driver's side of his friend's pickup truck on Long Beach Road in Island Park, Chavez was struck by Henson, who then drove away.

Chavez, who had severe head trauma, was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the charges, Henson continued driving after the collision and crashed into a guardrail on South Main Street in Freeport. His truck was towed to a local yard.

The following day, a Freeport police officer contacted the Nassau County Police Department about the van when he learned of the fatal hit-and-run collision.

Henson was arrested on July 13 by members of the NCPD and Freeport Police Department when he arrived at the tow yard to claim his van, according to the charges.

A subsequent investigation revealed that prior to the collision, Henson allegedly drank multiple alcoholic beverages over the course of two hours before driving his vehicle, and was intoxicated when he struck the victim.

“Sadly, not all hit-and-run investigations end with a defendant in custody,” Donnelly said in the release, “However, through the collaborative efforts of my office, the Nassau County Police Department Homicide Squad, and the Freeport Police Department, we were able to retrace the defendant’s alleged movements and piece together the series of events that led to Mr. Chavez’s tragic death."